TWO teenage robbers have been spared jail after a spate of terrifying attacks.

The boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, raided a chip shop and a convenience store within minutes of each other while armed with an axe and a knife.

In a separate incident, a pensioner had her handbag snatched by the pair.

Warrington Magistrates Court heard last week that the 16-year-old boy from Warrington and the 15-year-old from Runcorn first targeted the M&S Late Shop and Peel House Fish Bar in Widnes on the evening of Saturday, February 8.

They demanded cigarettes from the Derby Road store but only managed to steal sweets, before ordering staff in the chip shop to hand over the till.

Both teens fled the latter premises, on Peel House Lane, on foot after taking a quantity of fast food.

A 72-year-old woman then had her handbag – which contained cash and bank cards – snatched by the pair on a path off Benson Road in Birchwood on Wednesday, March 4.

They unsuccessfully targeted a 26-year-old man for his mobile phone during a separate incident on Birchwood Way on the same day.

The boys both admitted three counts of robbery, attempted robbery and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

They were each handed 12-month youth referral orders on Wednesday, May 20, and told to pay £85 in court costs, £49 in compensation and victim surcharges of £21.