Staff and customers at a charity shop were subjected to a terrifying ordeal when a man armed with a knife entered the premises.
Armed police were called to the premises in Walton at around 4pm on Saturday.
The drama unfolded County Cat Rescue, in the former Barclays Bank premises, on the corner of County Road and Spellow Lane.
Witnesses described seeing a large armed police response at the shop.
A small number of volunteers and customers were in the premises at the time.
County Cat Rescue sells second-hand goods such as clothing to help fundraise for its animal charity work.
Police said a 27 year-old man has been charged following an incident on County Road in Walton on Saturday 8 February in which a man was reportedly seen in possession of a knife.
Milad Jamali, of no fixed abode, has been charged with possession of a bladed article and affray and was remanded into custody to appear at Sefton magistrates' court today (Monday 10 February).
