A MASKED robber held frightened shop workers up at knifepoint in a raid on Canvey.

Staff at the Co-Op in Linden Way were left “very shaken” after a man entered the store at around 5:30pm on Tuesday and threatened them with a knife, demanding they hand over cash.

He then fled the shop with an undisclosed quantity of money, and is believed to have headed off down Maple Way towards Link Road.

It is the second armed robbery on the island in the space of a week after a machete-wielding robber threatened Nilesh Chovatiya, owner of the Post Office in Canvey High Street last Tuesday.

Police searched the area but could not find the suspect.

The man is described as white, around 5ft 10in tall, unshaven and of a slim build.

He spoke with a Liverpool accent and was wearing a waist-length dark blue coat with a hood and patches on the shoulders.

He also had on black gloves and a black ski mask and was carrying a JD sports bag.

A spokesman from Essex Police said: “Police have begun an investigation into an armed robbery which took place at the Co-op store in Linden Way on Canvey Island shortly before 5.30pm on Tuesday December 10.

“A man had entered the store and threatened the staff with a knife before demanding they hand over cash. He then fled the shop with a quantity of cash and is believed to have headed off down Maple Way towards Link Road.

“The shop staff were not injured during the robbery but were left very shaken by what happened. A full police search of the area was carried out but no trace of the suspect was found.

“Police are keen to hear from anyone with information on the incident, especially anyone who thinks they may have seen the suspect before or after the robbery.”

Anyone with information are asked to contact Southend CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.