A terrified shop assistant and customer were held at knifepoint by a robber in Bocking.

The 23-year-old woman cashier and male shopper were ordered to lie on the floor while the hooded attacker carried out the armed raid at the Co-op in Church Street, just before 7.30pm on Monday night.

He brandished a kitchen knife, believed to have a foot-long blade, and threatened them before escaping from the shop with a carrier bag full of money from the till.

A police spokeswoman said: "The cashier was serving a customer when they were confronted by another man wearing a navy blue balaclava with two eye-holes.

"The man was carrying a kitchen knife which was ten to 12 inches long. He threatened the cashier and male customer with the knife and demanded cash which was put into a Co-op carrier bag which he had brought with him.

"He then made the cashier and customer lie on the floor and escaped on foot towards Church Lane."

The spokeswoman said the shop assistant and customer survived their ordeal unhurt. It is not known how much money was taken in the raid.

A spokesman for the store declined to comment on the raid but confirmed no-one had been injured.

The raider is described as aged about 25, 5ft 8-10in tall, and of stocky build. He wore a yellow fluorescent jacket with reflective silver hoops on the arms and cuffs, and dark trousers.

Anyone with information should contact Braintree police on 01376 551312 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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