A MAN grabbed cash from a garage after asking staff to change a £20 note.

Police are appealing for information after the robbery at M & M Garage, on Snowdon Road, in Middlesbrough.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: "The incident occurred on Friday, September 11 at 4.30pm when a male of Middle Eastern appearance attended M & M Tyres - next door to M & M Garage - and asked a member of staff to change a £20 note for two £10 notes. The staff member refused the exchange after becoming suspicious."

The man then went to M & M Garage and asked the member of staff for a new £20 note in exchange for two £10 notes and followed them round the counter where the cash drawer was.

"He then grabbed a quantity of notes from the counter," the spokeswoman said. "The staff member challenged the male before the suspect grabbed the rest of the notes. He then got into a waiting black hackney taxi which travelled further up Snowdon Road before turning round, heading back and turning into North Road.

"The male suspect is described as around 30-years-old, of Middle Eastern appearance, around 5ft 10ins tall and wearing a light blue hooded tracksuit top and bottoms."

Anyone with information which could assist police or anyone who may know the identity of the suspect is asked to contact PC Delilah Hall on the non-emergency 101 number, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or www.crimestoppers-uk.org.