A KNIFEMAN stabbed a woman in the hand and attacked two other shopkeepers in two raids on Horsforth shops.

No-one was seriously injured in the robberies, but police are keen to trace the man, who struck twice within ten minutes in Horsforth on Monday.

In the first attack, at 7.50pm, the man walked into a grocer's shop on Low Lane carrying a small branch from a tree and a kitchen knife.

He went behind the counter and struck the shopkeeper on the head and neck with the branch. The man's wife came to his aid, but the robber pushed her back, demanding: "Give us the money."

He stabbed her in the hand, and struck her on the head with the branch. The robber left the shop empty-handed.

He was white, aged 20 to 25, 5ft 10in tall, unshaven, with a moustache. He was wearing a dark blue 'beanie' hat, blue jeans, and a distinctive bright yellow thigh-length jacket.

The same man struck minutes later at Mistry's off-licence, Woodville Street, wearing different clothes.

The man repeatedly demanded cash, brandishing a knife with a four-inch blade.

He pushed the shopkeeper to the floor, and made stabbing motions at his victim's body, ripping his shirt and grazing him with the blade.

The robber then grabbed something from a plastic box under the counter and made his escape.

He was described after this incident as white, aged 20 to 25, 5ft 6in tall, slim, with stubble, wearing a brown woolly hat, and a blue thigh-length coat.

He was also carrying a brown shoulder bag.

Police in Weetwood are linking the robberies with another recent attack on Yeadon chemist's shop and have appealed for members of the public for their help.