A cashier was terrified when a man wearing a Rod Stewart mask and carrying a gun attempted to rob the shop where she was working alone.

Trina Arthur, 31, was cashing up at Costcutter in Dryden Close, Maldon, at 9.45pm last Thursday. She said: “I heard the door open when I was cashing up and I felt someone lean over the counter and ruffle my hair.

“I thought it was one of our regulars having a joke at first when I looked up and saw the Rod Stewart mask.

“Then I saw the gun and started screaming."

Miss Arthur said the robber wore a dark jacket and green trousers with silver, fluorescent bands around the ankles.

Full story in this week's Standard.