CCTV footage has captured the terrifying moment thieves burst into a Stretford newsagent and sprayed the owner with a fire extinguisher.

Released by police the video follows a robbery in Davyhulme Road East, on Valentine's Day, when three men entered the shop at around 6.50am.

The gang proceeded to spray the shopkeeper ­— a man is his 50s ­— with the fire extinguisher.

They then fled on foot with a number of packets of cigarettes.

Police are now appealing for the public's help in tracking down the offenders.

One man is described as black with large black afro hair, who was wearing a black North Face jacket with a fur lined hood and a dark hoodie underneath.

The offender was also wearing black tracksuit bottoms and light and dark coloured trainers.

The second man was white, of large build and was wearing dark clothing.

And the third man was wearing a grey hooded jumper, under a black coat, and grey tracksuit bottoms.

Detective Constable Clare Greevy, of GMP’s Trafford district, said: “This was a cowardly crime whereby an innocent member of the public was subject to a horrific ordeal – simply while trying to make an honest living.

“I would ask the public to take a good look at the CCTV and get in touch with police if you have any information that they think could assist our enquiries.”

Anyone with any information should call police on 0161 856 7544 quoting incident number 292 of 140219, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.