A WOMAN who was threatened at knifepoint by armed robbers was saved from being “slashed in the face” by chocolate Kinder Surprise eggs, her family said last night.

The daughter of Paul and Jo Williams was working on the till of their family-run convenience store in Darlington, when two men – one brandishing a knife – robbed the shop.

He aimed the knife towards the till, but it went into a tray of Kinder eggs that was placed on top of the confectionary counter in the shop.

“She would have been slashed in the face if it wasn’t for the eggs,” said Mrs Williams.

Last night, police were reviewing CCTV in a bid to help identify the suspects.

Mr and Mrs Williams have run P&J’s Convenience Store on Brougham Street, just off North Road, for the last 16 years.

But at about 7pm on Thursday night, two youths targeted the shop, which is located half way along the quiet residential street.

Two male suspects entered the store and demanded cash from the couple’s daughter, before leaving with money and running off in the direction of North Park.

The sister of the woman who was held at knifepoint said she was “very upset”.

"My parents are both hard working people who don’t deserved to be robbed,” she added.

Mrs Williams said the family was “devastated” by what had happened, and were searching for answers to why they had been robbed.

A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: “Anyone with information is asked to contact Darlington CID on 101 quoting incident number 361 of October 19, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

Earlier this week, staff at the Subway sandwich shop at Haughton Road Service Station were threatened with violence.

Money was also taken during the robbery which happened on Monday at around 8.20pm.