PITSEA: Cashier's knife ordeal

TWO raiders threatened a female cashier with a knife before making off with £300 in cash from a Pitsea convenience store. The men, one of Asian appearance and the other black, went into Budgen's Express in High Road at about 7.30pm on Friday (dec22) and demanded the woman hand over money from the till. They then fled across the road towards a car park and in the direction of the MacDonald's drive-thru restaurant and Pitsea railway station. The cashier and another colleague also behind the till were left shocked but unhurt in the raid. Police have been appealing for witnesses and have released descriptions of the two men. The first man was of Asian appearance and was carrying a 4in kitchen knife with a serrated edge. He was in his late 20s, of medium build, 5ft 11ins tall and had a pock-marked face with stubble and short dark hair. He was wearing a blue fleece jacket with a zip. The second man was black, aged in his late 20s or early 30s, was of medium build, 5ft 10ins tall and had short dark hair and bad skin. He was wearing a black leather jacket and black jeans. A police spokesman said the raiders were spotted running in the direction of the car park opposite the store and could have been heading for a car or the railway station. Witnesses who saw them run off and customers in the store at the time of the raid should call Pitsea police on 01268 532212.