A MASKED thug who claimed to have a gun threatened a shop worker with a knife before stealing cash in a terrifying robbery yesterday morning, Thursday.

Police were sent to the Co-op store at The Gables Shopping Centre on Stour Road in Astley at around 11.10am where a man had stolen a quantity of cash.

The offender - described as white, around 5ft 8ins with a slim build and spoke with a local accent - fled the scene on a mountain bike towards Wycombe Drive.

He is believed to have been wearing a navy blue coat, black trousers, black Nike trainers with a white tick, had his face covered by a black mask and had his hood up.

No-one was injured in the robbery and no arrests have been made.

If you have any information contact police on 101 quoting incident number 939 of January 9. Alternatively call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.