A robber brandishing a Samurai-style knife stole £600 worth of cigarettes and scratch cards from a newsagents.

The man walked into Yosha's<OK> shop, in Alderney Gardens, Wickford, shortly after 6am yesterday.

He used a knife that had a 12-inch blade to threaten staff and ordered them to hand over cash, cigarettes and scratch cards.

A police spokesman said: "He insisted on Benson and Hedges cigarettes. Staff put the cigarettes and scratch cards in two white plastic carrier bags but did not give him cash."

"The knife is thought to be of the Japanese Samurai Dragon-style with a white pattern on its handle."