A ROBBER wearing a ski mask threatened a shopworker with a gun during a terrifying raid before making off on a bicycle.

Armed police were called to the Co-op food store, in Frinton Road, Holland-on-Sea, following the robbery on Wednesday night.

The robber is thought to have made off on a bicycle with hundreds of pounds.

A spokesperson for the East of England Co-op said the company is increasing security at all of its stores.

She said: “We are doing all we can to support the colleagues involved in this distressing incident.

“No one deserves to feel threatened in their place of work and we take the welfare of our colleagues very seriously.

“We have increased levels of security at all our stores and are working closely with local police forces to assist in their enquiries.”

In the past five months Co-op stores in Silver End, Halstead and Braintree have been targeted by robbers.

A spokesman for Essex Police said detectives are appealing for witnesses to come forward following the raid in Holland-on-Sea.

She said: “A man went into threatened staff with what is believed to have been a gun and made off with a three-figure sum of cash.

“The man is described as wearing a black hooded-top and a white ski mask and may have been on a bicycle.”

The incident happened at around 9.45pm.

Holland-on-Sea councillor Colin Winfield said people in the village have been left shocked by the incident.

He said: "It is such a shame because this was such a nice area, but there has been an increase in incidents.

"It must have been terrifying for the workers in the shop - I was robbed many years ago when I had a shop in London and you never get over it.

"Since the cutbacks we have seen very few police around here - we need more patrols."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Clacton CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.