TWO women armed with a knife robbed a terrified shop worker.

A man guarded the door of Martins newsagents, in Clayhill Road, Basildon to stop anyone else from enterting while the two carried out the armed robbery at 10am on Sunday, June 8.

They got away with £50 in cash from the till before running away.

Officers investigating the incident said the man had stopped would-be shoppers from getting inside the store.

One woman was described as slight build, approximately 5ft 5 ins tall and around 21 to 24 years of age.

She was pale and sweaty with sores on her face and was wearing a grey hoody with the hood up and dark bottoms with black trainers.

She also wore a number of rings on both hands.

The second woman was of a larger build, she had dark hair which was tied back and was approximately 19 to 24 years old.

She also had sores on her face and was approximately 5ft 4ins tall. She was wearing a black zip up jacket with a pink top underneath and blue or black tracksuit bottoms with a stripe down the side.

Police have arrested a man, 56, of Basildon, in connection with this incident. He has been released on police bail until July 22 whilst enquiries continue. .

Police at Basildon CID need to speak to any witnesses who were in the area and may have been turned away by the man outside the newsagents at that time or anyone with information about identifying the two women.

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Pc Oliver Hylands, CID at Basildon Police Station on 101 or give information via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.