A RAIDER wearing a Halloween mask threatened a shop assistant with a screwdriver before making off with money from the till.

The man, who was wearing a green mask trimmed with ginger hair, walked into the Co-op in Front Street, Coxhoe, at around 8.20pm on Monday.

He produced a red-handled screwdriver and threatened the female shop assistant.

He snatched around £160 in cash before walking out of the shop, turning right and disappearing down a side street.

The shop assistant was shocked but uninjured.

There were no customers in the shop at the time of the robbery and the other member of staff was in a different part of the building and was unaware of what was going on.

The robber is described as 6ft tall, heavily built and wearing a cream shirt and stonewashed jeans.

Det Sgt Steve Kitching, of Durham City CID, said: "It may be that he waited until the store was empty and in those circumstances would perhaps have loitered in the area without his mask before he struck.

"We would very much like to hear from anyone who was in the area who noticed anyone acting suspiciously."

Anyone with information should contact Durham CID on (0191) 386 4222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111