POLICE are investigating a knifepoint robbery at a village store.

A man wearing a black wool hat and a blue scarf covering the lower part of his face entered the Spar store in Willington's Commercial Street on Sunday.

There were only two female members of staff present at the time and they backed off as the man produced a kitchen knife with an eight-inch blade before jumping over the counter.

He rifled through the contents of the till and made off with a sum of cash, escaping down an alleyway opposite the store.

It is thought he made off in the direction of the Rosedale estate.

The robber was white, 6ft tall and of slim build, with what the staff describe as "very striking" bright blue eyes.

Detective Sergeant Dunny McCubbin of Crook CID said: "The shopworkers were left very shaken by what must have been a very frightening experience. If anyone saw this man heading into or leaving the Spar store at that time, we would like them to come forward."

He added that the incident - which happened at 9.15 pm - had some similarities to a robbery at a convenience store in Newton Hall, near Durham, on Saturday night in which over £200 was taken.

But although he said he would be talking to his colleagues in Durham, he added that there was no firm evidence of a link between the two cases.

Anyone with information should ring Durham Constabulary on 0845 6060365.