POLICE are appealing for witnesses following an armed robbery at a convenience store in Redditch.

At around 9.30pm on Friday a man armed with a black handgun entered the Co-operative Store, Evesham Road, Redditch and threatened the female shop assistant. He led the shop assistant to the back office where he grabbed cash from another staff member who was sitting at a desk.

He put the cash in a black plastic bag and then left the store by foot along Evesham Road in the direction of Oakenshaw.

He is described as an Asian male in his early 20s with an Asian accent, approximately 5ft 11ins tall and of slim build. He was wearing a black fleece style hooded top with white zip and drawstring, black tracksuit or combat style trousers and black trainers.  He also wore black gloves and a mask covering the lower part of his face.

Detective Inspector Leighton Harding of West Mercia Police is eager to trace witnesses, particularly several members of the public who may have seen the offender shortly after leaving the store.

He said: “We are eager to trace members of the public who alerted an officer to an Asian male running in Patch Lane, carrying a black rucksack soon after the robbery. We also appeal to anyone entering the Co-op store at the time of the incident that may have seen the offender leaving.”

DI Harding added: “Police are today carrying out further enquiries. Thankfully no one was injured in this incident, but we do need to find this person as soon as possible. 

Additional patrols will be taking place over the next few days to provide reassurance to the local community.

Anyone with information can contact the police on telephone 101 quoting incident number 766s020514 or anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.