Frightened shop assistants were today recovering after three masked men, one wielding an axe, broke into their off licence.
Staff at the Sanders off licence, in Golden Cross Parade, Rochford, were left shaken after the men burst in and forced the 36-year-old woman and the 18-year-old minding the store into the office.
They were forced to open the safe while one of the robbers used the axe to smash up the shop.
The robbers also made off with cash from the till and the older woman's handbag, taking a total of £1,300.
Dylis Lawrence, who manages the shop, said: "One of the men used the axe to smash up the freezer to get them to hurry up with opening the safe which must have been terrifying for them. Something like this happening makes us feel very vulnerable."
Anyone with information about the incident - which happened around 9.50pm on Monday - is asked to contact Rochford police on 01702 547241.
Published Wednesday November 6, 2002
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