A MASKED raider threatened shop workers with a knife during a terrifying robbery in Southend.

The robber stormed into the One Stop Shop, in Cluny Square, Southend, wearing a grey hoodie tied tightly around his face.

He brandished a knife at the two store workers and demanded money from the till.

He left on foot with about £600 in cash. There was no one else in the shop at the time.

The terrified shop workers called police immediately, at about 10.50pm.

They have launched an investigation and are appealing to anyone with information about the incident, or who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area before or after the robbery, to come forward.

The suspect is described as a white man in his twenties and was wearing a grey hooded top.

Rosemary Ariss, manager of the neighbouring Cafe at the Square, has worked there for five years and never seen any trouble. She said: “I feel perfectly safe here. I have never had a problem working here.

“I’m shocked to hear about it. The area has come on leaps and bounds from what it apparently used to be like.

“We close at 2.30pm, but I’m here sometimes in the evening as well and there’s never been a problem.

“I had people in this morning and nobody mentioned anything about it and that sort of thing would normally spread like wildfire.”

Anyone with information can call Southend CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.