A VILLAGER who had a gun pointed at him while masked armed robbers raided his local shop today told of his ordeal.

A VILLAGER who had a gun pointed at him while masked armed robbers raided his local shop today told of his ordeal.

Detectives are hunting three armed robbers who struck at the Co-op store on High Street, Dedham, yesterday at around 8.10pm.

Andrew Organisciok, of Dedham, was in the store when the robbers burst in.

The 27-year-old said: “I was in the store and two guys came piling through the door, then a third guy with a gun followed.

“One said to me 'get on the floor now' and pointed the gun at me, so I dived on the floor. Then they told a couple of other customers the same.

“They went to the till and emptied it of cash and then I heard them asking the clerk to open the back door.

“They were wearing balaclavas and trench coats.

“The whole thing only lasted around five minutes and I was on the floor all that time.

“I was scared a little bit but thought as long as everyone does as they [the robbers] say, everything will be okay.

“I thought to myself 'don't try to be a hero'.”

Essex police said the men took money from the till. It is believed that one of the robbers had a shotgun.

The men left in a red BMW which was later found abandoned at Mill Pond. Staff at the shop were not injured but left shaken.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “We are appealing for any witnesses before or after the robbery and anyone who saw the men abandoning the car and we believe getting into another vehicle.”

The armed robbery follows an incident in Ipswich on Wednesdaywhen three balaclava-clad robbers raided The Local off-licence in Norwich Road, brandishing crowbars.

Anyone with information about either robbery is asked to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.