A Bradford shopkeeper is recovering in hospital today after he was slashed in the face and suffered stab wounds to his wrist and groin by a knife-wielding robber.

Police described the attack as appalling and appealed for witnesses to come forward to help them in their hunt for the man.

Mohan Patel, 50, underwent surgery at Bradford Royal Infirmary after the attack. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The masked raider ran into Tong Street Newsagents and Off Licence yesterday at 5.45pm. He pulled out a knife and demanded money.

Mr Patel opened the till to hand over some cash when the robber slashed him in the face, injuring his eye. He was also stabbed in the groin and wrist. It is not known how much money was stolen.

Mr Patel's son Ketan, 18, who is studying for an HND in software engineering at Bradford University, dialled 999 after his father managed to raise the alarm.

"He was alone in the shop at the time. I had just got back from university five minutes earlier and was just getting my coat off when I heard the alarm go off," he said.

"There was blood pouring everywhere, all over the floor, and there were smashed bottles from the shelves behind the counter. It was a real shock.

"If I had come home just a few minutes later I might have seen the man running away."

Mr Patel's wife, Bhavna, 47, said: "When I came down he was just sitting on a stool, saying 'Call an ambulance'."

She said she and her family had run the shop for 15 years and had never been victims of a robbery before.

Inspector Paul Jeffrey, of Odsal police, said: "It's an appalling crime. The shopkeeper did not offer any resistance. The robber made a determined effort to cause injury and he needs to be caught."

The man is described as white, 5ft 8ins tall, of slim build and aged around 20.

He was wearing a green wax jacket, blue woollen gloves and a blue woolly hat pulled over his face with holes cut out for his eyes.

If you can help, ring Odsal police on Bradford 376659 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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