THREE assistants were left shaken but unhurt after a knife-wielding raider struck as they were about to close a village store for the night.

Police are hunting the robber and an accomplice, who kept watch and possibly acted as getaway driver, following Tuesday's raid at the Co-op, in Coxhoe, near Durham.

The masked robber entered the premises, in Petterson Dale, as staff were closing for the night, at 10pm.

Brandishing a dark-handled knife, with a 5in or 6inblade, he threatened the three members of staff, demanding they hand over the contents of the till.

As the assistants had just withdrawn the notes while cashing up for the night they handed over the till tray, containing only £80 in coins.

The robber and a second man, who was standing at the doorway during the incident, fled the premises and ran to a car, parked in an alleyway next to the nearby community centre.

Police said the dark vehicle made off in the direction of Bowburn.

The knifeman was wearing a crudely fashioned balaclava mask, which police believe to have been homemade.

He was slim, possibly in his 20s or 30s, about 5ft 6in and spoke with a local accent.

At the time of the raid, he was wearing a dark green waist-length casual jacket and faded blue jeans.

The other man was slightly taller, and was wearing a dark top with a light-coloured band across the top of his arms and chest.

Detective Constable Mick Kirtley, of Durham City CID, who is leading the investigation, last night appealed for information from anyone in the vicinity of the store, at about 10pm on Tuesday.

"There were no customers present at the time, but we hope there were witnesses in the area who might have seen the car or its two occupants, either as it was parked in the alleyway near the community centre, or as it drove away after the robbery."

Anyone with information is asked to ring police on 0845-606 0365, or Crimestoppers' on Freephone 0800 555111.