Masked robbers fled empty-handed after assaulting a shop owner in an early morning raid.

Three men in balaclavas forced their way into Martin's newsagent and post office, in Launceston Road, Wigston, yesterday.

They grabbed the owner as he opened the shop at about 6am, forced him inside and demanded money. He refused to hand over safe keys and the men fled.

It is the second attack on shops in the area in the past six weeks, but police do not think they are linked.

Last month, at Life Style Express, an off-licence two doors away from yesterday's attempted robbery, masked men smashed their way in and escaped with £5,000 worth of stock and £1,000 in cash.

Kailash Odedra, 27, who works at Life style Express, said: "It's scary to think it's happened again – but this area gets dangerous at night and I get paranoid."

Detective Sergeant Pete Wheeler said inquiries into the Martin's robbery were in the early stages.

"We are keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and saw anything suspicious," he said.

Anyone with information can call county detectives on 0116 222 2222.