A MAN armed with a knife threatened staff late at night in a supermarket in Westcliff.

The man entered the Premier store, now known as A&D, in London Road, at around 11pm.

He threatened a staff member with the weapon while he demanded that they give him with cash out of the till.

However, the brave shopper worker refused to hand over any money.

The man ran empty-handed in the direction of the town centre.

Police officers quickly attended the incident after it had happened on Thursday.

A member of staff from nearby Champagne Chinese restaurant was very concerned when they saw police outside.

The staff member, who asked to be kept anonymous, said: “We were just walking outside to close up the restaurant at about 11pm when we saw a police car outside the shop.

“There was just the one car outside.”

Mark Flewitt, Southend Council’s portfolio holder for public protection, said the incident could be very difficult for the victims to forget.

He said: “This incident is pretty nasty and this sort of robbery is especially bad as there are usually only a few staff on a shift at most.

“They should not be used to acting under that type of maximum stress and neither should they have to.

“An act such as this is absolutely appalling.”

Mr Flewitt was conscious the robbery could make other shop workers feel more vulnerable while at work.

He added: “This is bound to make people very cautious and aware and they will feel vulnerable for a time after this.

“However, 90 per cent of the time, nothing happens and customers are very pleasant and behave normally.

“For these victims, it is obvious that nothing is going to be more memorable than this incident.”

Essex Police released a description of the suspect they wish to speak to in connection with the incident.

He was described as being 5ft 5ins, black and wearing a green Puffa jacket with a fur hood and glasses attached.

The suspect was also holding a black Nike backpack at the time of the incident.

If you have any information, CCTV or dash cam footage in connection with this incident, please call Southend CID on 101 quoting crime reference 432/114905/18.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org to provide information in confidence.