Petrol station worker 'screamed for his life' fighting off 'armed robber' in forecourt

A petrol station worked “screamed for his life” while fighting off a robber in Openshaw.

The incident happened at the Essar petrol station on Ashton Old Road at around 4am on Tuesday (February 14).

Community group Crimewatchers were patrolling the area when they spotted two men fighting in the forecourt.

The team, which aims to help residents in the Droylsden and Audenshaw areas, claims they saw a petrol station employee tackling a man with a knife.

They ran over and detained the man until police arrived at the scene.

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The petrol station employee was left “shaken” but sustained no serious injuries, according to the group.

A 21-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in custody for questioning, a spokesman for GMP confirmed.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, a spokesman for Crimewatchers, a community-funded project which helps support the police, said: “They were fighting on the forecourt and the guy was screaming for his life. He was very scared.

“After I detained the male the police came and they took him to hospital for shock.”

In a statement, they said: “This morning at 4am as we were passing the 24 hour petrol station we saw the employee fighting for his life in the forecourt with a man armed with a knife.

“We immediately headed over and he stopped then tried to run away Unfortunately for him he was unable to get away and myself and members of the team detained him until the police arrived The police response was great and they arrived within minutes Thankfully the employee was shaken but no serious injuries, very lucky really when a 6 inch blade was involved.