TWO young girls burst into a Swindon shop with a gun and stole all the takings.

VK Stores owner Mohammed Hussain says he feared for his life when the teenagers demanded cash and then threatened to shoot him.

Mr Hussain, 30, who was working on his own at the time, said that it was all a blur as it happened so quickly.

"There were two girls aged around 15," he said. "They had a real gun and took all the money.

"I can barely remember as I was so scared at the time.

He said one girl shouted "Take the money out quickly otherwise I am going to shoot you".

"She pointed the gun at me and told me she was going to kill me," he said.

"It was a small hand gun, but it was real - that is why I'm scared. I think they were on drugs.

"I let them take the cash tray from the till and they disappeared quickly.

"I felt if I didn't give them money, they would kill me.

"I am worried. I don't know what I can do.

"I can't close the shop, as I'll lose money." Three female customers were inside the shop in County Road when the armed youngsters struck.

The girls, which Mr Hussain described as white English, made off with more than £500 in notes and coins.

They were wearing hoods but he said he could see their faces and believes they may be local.

The robbery happened at about 7pm on Thursday, when it was still light outside.

"It is terrible, really terrible," he added. Mr Hussain, who is originally from Sri Lanka, has run the shop, which was formerly Costcutters, for three years.

Police are appealing for the three customers who witnessed the robbery to come forward.

They are also appealing to anyone else with information about what happened to get in touch.

Det Con Chris Tollervey, from Swindon CID, said: "We are appealing for witnesses in relation to the robbery that occurred at the VK Stores, County Road, at the junction with Elmina Road, Swindon, at approximately 7pm on Thursday, April 5.

"At this time two females entered the store together and threatened the shopkeeper with violence before demanding that the shopkeeper open up the till.

"One of these females then leaned over the counter and removed the cash tray, which contained notes and coins before both females ran out of the store with the cash tray and ran off along Elmina Road."

Insp Paul Hawkins confirmed that one of the girls was white, 5ft 2in tall, and wore a hooded top covering her face.

He said the second girl was also white, aged 14 to 15 years old and 5ft 8in tall. She was wearing a light blue hooded top and dark blue tracksuit bottoms with a white stripe down the side.

Anyone with information should contact Swindon police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.