This is the shocking moment a feral gang of balaclava-clad teens battered a shop worker before stealing vapes and fizzy drinks. The employee was on duty when approximately 15 yobs stormed the shop on Tuesday evening.

Disturbing CCTV footage captured the moment the youths encircled the frightened staff member, who was trapped against the refrigerator doors.

The savage beating unfolded in front of a customer, who witnessed the worker being punched and kicked.

Some of the yobs even threw drink bottles at the victim's head, being egged on by their accomplices.

Despite being outnumbered, the brave worker attempted to fend off the attackers in a valiant effort to defend himself.

The attack took place at the Norman's News shop in Northampton and marks the second assault on the store in the last fortnight, reports the Daily Record.

The shop owner, Vishal Patel, 46, was not present during the incident but has called for increased police patrols in the evening to ease safety fears.

The dad-of-two said: "The attack happened when two boys came in and tried to steal stock.

"My worker took the stock back and then around 15 of them came behind him and started fighting him inside the store.

"Some of them jumped over the counter and took 20 vapes. This is the second time this has happened this month.

"This latest raid caused £2,000 worth of damage plus stolen stock."

The brutal attack was captured by several CCTV cameras within the store.

In one clip, a boy can bee seen attempting to persuade the worker that he is 18 in order to purchase a vape.

As one lad distracted the shopkeeper, his brazen accomplice swiped a soft drink from the fridge and sauntered out, waving goodbye to the employee as he went.

Just seconds later, the same yob re-entered the shop, this time attempting to snatch a haul of vapes from behind the counter.

The situation escalated when the shop worker tried to call for help, only to have the phone ripped from his hand.

The thug can be heard yelling "give me the phone bro" as he hauls the shop worker across the counter and onto the floor.

The entire ordeal lasted around 16 minutes, but owner Vishal estimates the rampage resulted in damage worth more than £2,000.

At 7.54pm, one of the youths pilfered a fizzy drink from the fridges and left the store without paying, prompting the unnamed employee to give chase.

Three minutes later, a larger gang burst into the shop, hurling drink bottles at the worker and bombarding him with a barrage of punches.

Then, at 8.08pm, a solitary teen stormed in, demanding the worker's phone and instigating a violent tussle that spanned two minutes, dragging the employee over the counter.

Despite the horror attack, the shop worker miraculously avoided serious injury and is now recuperating at home.

Mr Patel said: "He's injured, his eyes are red from the punches. Three of my workers now don't want to work the 5pm - 9pm shift.

"The gang came last week as well and took some drinks from the fridge. We tried to get it back this time.

"They didn't have any weapons they just attacked with their fists.

"The police told me if they come back again just ring us but 30 turned up yesterday but the police didn't turn up.

"It's been two days and I still haven't seen the police yet.

"I just don't feel safe here. I'm feeling unsafe and my three staff don't feel safe.

"I've been doing the 7am until 9pm shift as I don't have any staff. I'm scared and had to get my friend in the shop with me in the evening.

"I want to feel safe here.

"If these gangs of 10-15 kids come again, I won't be able to stop them and I'm not getting support from the police.

"I'm feeling unsafe here. I've been a shopkeeper for 15 years and it's never been like this.

"Police need to do something to stop these gangs. I've requested more police on the street from 5pm until 9pm but they never come.

"If they did, these things wouldn't happen. Yesterday, nobody came because police said the gang has gone. They say they patrol but I don't see anyone.

"These gangs, they have alcohol, I think they're being served alcohol, underage kids, so they're drinking.

"I think they're drinking alcohol and smoking weed. Their reaction and their behaviour are influenced by this."

A Northamptonshire Police spokeswoman said: "This was a report of a robbery made to us at 8.15pm on April 29, at a business in Drapery.

"The caller reported a group of up to 15 young people had entered the store, assaulted a member of staff, stolen stock and damaged the store.

"Our patrol plans include the Drapery area, and we have been ensuring a police presence at times when we know issues have been taking place."

Julie Davenport, councillor for Delapre and Rushmere, said: "Youths in balaclavas are becoming a trend it's intimidating and the knives make it even more scary.

"People are scared. More needs to be done and incidents need to be taken seriously."