The rampaging raiders were tracked by the "considerable bravery" of onlookers who chased them on foot and in the car – and eventually spotted the getaway car driving through a flashing speed camera.

The two ex-soldiers are now behind bars for a total of 14 years following a string of robberies, including the terrifying raid at the Spar in Liverpool Road, Longton – and seven others.

Neil Fitzpatrick, 24, was jailed for nine years after admitting eight robberies in the Preston area and Stockport. Leon Rathmill, 23, was jailed for five years for helping Fitzpatrick with the Longton raid.

>> Knife raiders jailed for 14 years

Shop worker Liz Greenhalgh, 58, told of the terrifying moment she was threatened with a carving knife when Fitzpatrick burst into Longton Spar brandishing a six-inch blade and demanded money from the till.

Mrs Greenhalgh, of Shirley Lane, Longton, said it was around 9.30pm when Fitzpatrick, dressed all in black and wearing a scarf to cover his face, came into the store with the weapon.

She said: "I said to him 'you must be joking.' He was shouting 'I'm not joking, open the till' so I stepped back and found the keys. He took the till drawers and ran off out of the door."

Mrs Greenhalgh, who has worked at the Spar for 18 years, was back at work on her next shift.

She added: "When you look back and think what could have happened, it is frightening. If I had been hurt or if there had been anyone else in the shop, it would have been different."

Preston Crown Court heard that the pair were caught after passers-by chased them and a motorist saw the getaway car get flashed by a speed camera. He told police who were able to find the car's registration number and track down the two men.

Duncan Birrell, prosecuting, told Preston Crown Court that Rathmill was watching the door and trying to stop customers getting involved as the cash was stolen.

Showing what Mr Birrell called "considerable bravery", members of the public chased the fleeing robbers, who ran 150 yards to a waiting getaway car.

Fitzpatrick turned on his pursuers and threatened them with the knife before the two robbers jumped into the vehicle, which sped off along the A59 towards Hutton. But another witness followed the silver Renault in his own car and saw it go through the speed camera.

Fitzpatrick admitted eight robberies in total, including the Longton raid on April 8, the Spar store in Mark Square, Tarleton, on April 7, Bargain Booze, in Chorley Road, Walton-le-Dale on March 31, and five raids in Stockport, in a campaign which ended after the Longton raid.

Fitzpatrick, 24, of Kearsley Avenue, Tarleton, admitted two robberies and asked for six others to be taken into consideration. Rathmill, 23, from Middleton near Manchester, admitted the Longton robbery and possession of cocaine. Both were dishonourably discharged from the Army.

Do you know the plucky members of the public who chased the robbers? Ring Matthew Squires on 01772 838104 or
e-mail lep.newsdesk@lep.co.uk