A SHOP owner and his son were viciously attacked during a botched robbery in Ellesmere Port.

The pair, aged 52 and 17, were struck on the head with a metal object by a thug who entered Nathan's Food & Wine on Regent Street at 8.10pm on Friday (March 2).

The father sustained serious injuries as he was hit twice, however both are now said to be recovering at home with their family.

Police officers are urging anyone with information on the incident to contact them immediately.

Detective Constable Stuart Wood said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for the two men involved, one of whom has sustained serious injuries, and we are committed to doing all that we can to trace the person responsible.”

The suspect is said to have threatened the men shortly after he walked into the shop.

He demanded that they opened the till and as the father bent down he was struck on the head with an unspecified metal item.

The man’s son then attempted to fend off the suspect, and he too was hit on the head.

The suspect then hit the shop owner on the head for a second time before fleeing the store empty-handed.

The suspect is described as a white man, between 5’6” and 5’10” tall. He was wearing a dark coloured top and light coloured bottoms and had his face covered.

DC Wood added: “We are currently following a number of lines of enquiry in relation to the incident and I’m keen to hear from anyone who believes that they may have any information which could assist our investigation.

“I’m also keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident and believes that they may have witnessed the offender fleeing the scene.”

Anyone with any information in relation to the incident is asked to contact Cheshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 916 of 2 March 2018. Information can also be passed anonymously, via Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.