Staff praised after armed robbery

POLICE are today hunting a balaclava-clad robber who held staff at gunpoint at an Ipswich service station and demanded cash.

A man entered the Morrisons' petrol station in Sproughton Road at between 7.30 and 7.45pm on Saturday and threatened staff.

He made off with the contents of one till and fled the scene on foot.

Staff refused to open a second till and alerted police via a panic button behind the cash desk.

Peter Morley, general store manager at Morrisons in Ipswich, said: "All of the staff are fine.

"We had two women working at the time and they were quite traumatised.

"He threatened the staff when he asked for the money and swore a little and said 'give me the money'.

"The staff were marvellous because he only got one till.

"I am very pleased with how they reacted. They are trained but you never know how someone will react until it happens."

Mr Morley said it was the first time the service station had been targeted and police and representatives from head office would be speaking to the staff involved today.

Police have also gathered CCTV evidence from the garage and issued a description of the offender.

Inspector Matt Dee said: "The male is believed to have been armed with a shot-gun. Apparently it was a barrelled item partially wrapped in clothing.

"Whether it's real we don't know.

"We had a big presence but by the time we got there he had gone.

"It would have been quite a busy time and there are a number of witnesses."

The robber is believed to be white, 5ft 10in to 5ft 11in and of slim build.

He was wearing a grey home-made balaclava described as either a sock, hood or sleeve with holes cut out for the eyes and mouth.

He had brown eyes and mousy hair and was wearing dark trousers, a dark cloth bomber-style jacket and white trainers.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact DC Steve Williamson at Ipswich CID on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.