By Rebecca SheppardA SHOP manager who was threatened at knifepoint by two teenage robbers has spoken of her ordeal.Anne Matthews, temporary store manager at Balfour News, in Norwich Road, Ipswich, tried to tackle the robbers, but backed off after they thrust a knife just inches from her face.

By Rebecca Sheppard

A SHOP manager who was threatened at knifepoint by two teenage robbers has spoken of her ordeal.

Anne Matthews, temporary store manager at Balfour News, in Norwich Road, Ipswich, tried to tackle the robbers, but backed off after they thrust a knife just inches from her face.

“It was near the end of the day and I had turned a couple of the lights off to let customers know we wanted to close,” she said.

“I was just about to put the shutters down when two young men burst in, making a lot of noise. I couldn't understand what they were saying and thought they were just arguing between themselves.

“Then they ran to the back of the counter and bashed in the door before running behind it to the till.”

Mrs Matthews added: “I went to see what they were doing and one of them held a large knife up to my face. I backed off and he yanked the whole metal cash drawer out of the till and ran out of the shop.

“It all happened so quickly, I only really saw what one of them looked like. I was shocked and we just let them get on with it.”

The robbery happened at 9.50pm on Tuesday - and brought the number of armed raids on shops in Suffolk since December last year to 10.

No-one was injured in the Balfour News raid and the two robbers escaped in a waiting car, in which detectives believe there were two accomplices.

Both of the robbers were aged about 16, with one believed to be white and the other of mixed ethnic origin.

Anyone with information should contact Ipswich police on 383133 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

rebecca.Sheppard@eadt.co.uk