A hammer-wielding robber stole £500 from a Canvey takeaway.

The balaclava-clad man walked into Dominos Pizza, in the High Street, and demanded staff hand over the contents of the till.

He brandished the weapon and tried to jump over the counter then they refused.

The store manager then ran out of his office and pushed the masked robber away.

During the scuffle, the hooded man dropped the weapon behind the counter.

An accomplice, also wearing a balaclava, stood in the doorway.

Josh Manners, a staff member at the store, revealed his terrified colleague handed the hammer back to the robber before he fled with a handful of cash.

He said: “He was trying to climb over the counter to get into a drawer. It was then that the manager ran out and pushed him off back into the customer area.

“My manager then went to open the till and he got the cash out and gave him £500.

“The man dropped the hammer into the back of the shop and one of my colleagues gave him it back.

“I am very shocked that this even happened. You hear about these things but you don’t expect it to happen at a place where you work, it’s very scary."

Mr Manners said the armed robber was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, and black trainers.

He had his hood up, and had black gloves on.

The incident took place shortly before 10.30pm on Sunday. An Essex Police spokesman said: “Police in Canvey are investigating a robbery at Dominos Pizza where staff members were threatened with a hammer.

“Two men are reported to have entered the premises and demanded cash. One was holding a hammer.

“A cashier handed over a three-figure sum. No one was injured.

“Police went to the scene and carried out a search of the area but the suspects were not located and enquiries are continuing.

“Both men are described as white and dressed in dark clothing and balaclavas. One was around 6ft tall, the other around 5ft 10ins.”

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