A MASKED raider threatened two shop assistants with a knife, the day after a similar attack just a few streets away.

The man escaped with a money box from Booze Buster in Wynyard Road, Owton Manor, Hartlepool on Tuesday night.

The attack followed a similar robbery at another Booze Buster in the Fens Shopping Centre on Monday, when a shop assistant was threatened with a knife before the attacker took £200.

A police spokesman said they were keeping an open mind about whether the two incidents were linked.

In the latest raid the attacker, who was wearing a black balaclava, burst into the shop at 5.30pm and also threatened two shop assistants with some kind of knife.

The robber demanded cash and took a money box, including an undisclosed sum, leaving the two shop assistants shaken but unhurt.

Police were yesterday hunting the robber who struck at the Wynyard Road off licence on Tuesday and have not ruled out a link to the previous incident.

The Tuesday attacker is described as 6ft tall, with black hair, wearing a black balaclava hat and a black jacket.

The attacker in the Monday night raid was about 5ft 8in tall, wearing a black balaclava, a dark coloured anorak and dark trousers.

The masked raider held a knife to the throat of a terrified 40-year-old shop assistant at 7.30pm before snatching £200 from the till.

Anyone with any information should call Hartlepool Police on (01642) 302129