A brave duo have spoken of their terrifying ordeal after a robber walked into a convenience store and wielded a carving knife.

Student Shelley Moles was stacking up papers at Lacey's, in Kents Hill Road, Benfleet, at around 9.45pm on Thursday when the man, thought to be in his teens, approached her.

The 17-year-old, who studies sport science, said: "He came to the till and I turned around and asked him what he wanted. He said 'ten sovereign' and when I looked up, he had a knife.

"He tried to put his hand in the till - I was so scared that I screamed."

However, quick-thinking Shelley kept a cool head during the drama and slammed the till drawer shut on the robber's hand. He escaped from the shop with just £125 cash.

Meanwhile, shop assistant Sue Seymour was at the other end of the shop stacking shelves. She heard the scream for help - and ran to get help from residents at the back of the shop.

The 38-year-old said: "This is the second robbery I've seen at this shop - I was here in February when a similar thing happened and the robber stole the till."

Albert Webster, 64, whose son-in-law owns the store, said: "I always keep two people in the shop at the same time now - and thank goodness these two were together on Thursday."

Security measures in the shop have also been bolstered, said Mr Webster, with six CCTV cameras and alarms.

The robber was white, aged around 18 to 19, and 5ft 6in tall. He was wearing a blue shirt, white baseball cap and jeans.

Anyone with information can contact Benfleet police on 01268 756221 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Quick thinking - Sue Seymour and Shelley Moles confronted a till raider armed with a knife

Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

By Chris Weeks

Reporter's e-mail: chris.weeks@notes.newsquest.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.