Man charged following Co-op armed robbery

A man has been charged following an armed robbery at a Co-op food store on Albert Royds Street on Saturday morning (7 February).

A shotgun was fired by a masked offender during the robbery as he tried to escape the shop.

Kevin Terence Merrick, 29, of no fixed abode was charged with robbery, possession of a shortened shotgun without a certificate, possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition for a firearm without a certificate, and possession of a firearm of length less than 30-60cm.

He is due to appear at Rochdale Magistrates' Court today (Tuesday 10 February).

The robber, who wore a black and white mask, ran out of the store and onto a nearby housing estate.

Police attended the the Co-op store shortly after 10.35am on Saturday morning to find that no-one had been hurt in the incident.