An eye-witness has described the moment a man wielding a metal pole demanded cash from staff during an armed robbery at a village convenience shop.

The thug entered the Co-op Food Store, in Regent Street, Rowhedge, at around 7.50pm on Tuesday.

When he was inside the store, he demanded money from staff before fleeing with an unknown amount of cash and alcohol.

He ran off from the scene towards High Street and the sea wall.

Resident Kevin Grant entered the shop whilst the robbery was ongoing.

He said: “I was just popping into the shop to get something.

“I went in and saw him standing there with what looked like a metal pole in his hand and a ski mask on.

“It was a bit of a shock, you don’t expect to see something like that in Rowhedge.

“But it was a bit amateur hour if I am honest.”

Mr Grant said the man quickly fled the scene but was pursued on foot by police.

“The police arrived and came searching for him around the area,” he said.

“I believe he tried to escape along the riverside path towards the Hythe.”

The same shop was also raided in March when armed robbers threatened shop workers with a screwdriver and an axe.

Bethany Teague, who lives nearby, said residents were concerned about an increase in crime around the village.

She said: “I didn’t hear anything at the time which is unusual as I was up watching TV and normally I hear everything.

“Rowhedge is a really lovely village and we do not see a lot of crime so obviously it is worrying. It seems to be getting worse recently.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said of the recent raider: “He was described as aged about 50, of mixed heritage, about 5ft 10 and of stocky build.

“He wore a dark grey hooded coat, light grey hoodie and jeans.”

A spokesman for the East of England Co-op said: “We are supporting colleagues involved in this distressing incident and would urge anyone with any information to contact Essex police or call Crimestoppers anonymously.”

Contact Colchester CID on 101, quoting reference 42/181535/18. Call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or visit Crimestoppers-uk.org.