A 95-year-old woman had an expensive gold chain ripped from her neck as robbers struck at a convenience store.

The woman was standing in the shop, in Washington Street, Girlington, Bradford, when two masked men, one armed with a ten-inch-bladed kitchen knife, burst in.

The shopkeeper, a woman in her 30s, shouted for help from family members in the back room.

The unarmed suspect then grabbed the chain from around the elderly woman's neck and pulled it from her. Both men fled on foot down a nearby snicket.

The pensioner was shocked and upset by the ordeal but not physically hurt.

Detective Inspector Gerry O'Shea, of Bradford North CID, said the offenders probably lived locally and he hoped someone in the community would be able to help identify the culprits or locate the stolen chain, which was 24-carat Asian gold worth several hundred pounds.

He added: "This was a nasty attack on a very elderly lady."

The suspects were both Asian and wearing dark clothing and dark balaclavas. The one with the knife was 5ft 6ins tall and of medium build. His accomplice was thin and 5ft 2ins tall.

Anyone with information about the robbery, which happened at 1.45pm on Wednesday, is asked to contact Bradford North CID via the help desk on (01274) 376259, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.