Detectives were today hunting an armed robber who held up a hairdresser's salon in Wilsden.

Michelle Humphreys, 24, and Amanda Jones, 27, partners in The Salon on Main Street, were threatened by a man with a gun as they prepared to close for the day.

Amanda said: "He walked in, stood at the door and said 'Give me the money.' We thought he was joking but he insisted 'I'm not joking, give me the money or I will shoot you.'

"So I pointed over to the trolley and said the money is on there. But we had had a quiet day and there was only about £50 on it.

"I made him pull the drawer out but he pulled out the wrong drawer - a mistake we are always making - with brushes and combs in it!"

Michelle added: "His face was quite a picture when he saw it was full of brushes. He said: "Where's the ******* money? He was quite agitated and probably thought we were taking the mick.

"He said there had to be more than this and asked where our purses were. He took one purse from a lady's handbag which had about £70 cash and her credit cards.

"The whole incident lasted no more than two minutes and it was a very frightening experience.

"As he left he said: "If you follow me I will kill the lot of you.'

"He ran up the Main Street and our lady client ran after him 30 seconds later but was unable to find him. But he was seen by a man in Dewhirst Street.

"The woman's 13-year-old daughter was here and it hit her quite badly afterwards as it has done our junior, Joanne Green, 17, who may need counselling.

"I couldn't believe what had happened. You expect that sort of thing in Leeds but not somewhere like Wilsden."

The man is described as white, 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in tall, in his late 20s or early 30s and of slight build.

He was wearing dark blue jeans and black shoes. He had light brown hair with thin eyebrows and brown eyes. He wore a green thigh-length coat with a hood and spoke with a local accent.

He carried a dark red carrier bag with little black writing on it.

His hair was unkempt and he had not shaved for several days and had a very poor, ruddy complexion.

Keighley police said they were keeping an open mind on the robbery which could be linked with another attack on an Ilkley hairdresser recently.

Sgt. Alan Gee said anyone who could provide information about this crime should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or Keighley CID on 01535 617085.

The Ilkley salon raid happened last Thursday night when a raider threatened a member of staff at the Shine hairdressing salon in Cowpasture Road.

The robber, who had a handgun, escaped with a cash box.

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