A woman attacked with a hammer by a masked raider who targeted the Shipley garage where she works told today how the traumatic experience had put her off working there.

Sharon Birdsall, 35, was hit on the head with a hammer and threatened with a knife after the robber burst into the filling station on Leeds Road, Windhill on Wednesday night.

The robber got away with cash and cigarettes, leaving the part-time cashier requiring hospital treatment for cuts and bruising to her head.

Mrs Birdsall works full-time as a secretary in Bradford but has been saving money from her part-time job to pay for a holiday.

But following the attack she told the T&A: "I don't think I'll be going back to the garage after this. I like working there and I'll be losing out but I'm too frightened it might happen again.

"It's not the fact that he robbed me but that he had a hammer and knife and actually hit me before asking for the money. This has really thrown me and shaken my confidence.

Paul Robson, manager of the filling station, said security was being reviewed: "You don't want to be in a position where you barricade yourself in but these days it seems that's the way things are going. She's a very good employee and we'll be very sad to lose her.''

Anyone with any information about the robber is asked to call 01274 376082.

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