ARMED robbers threatened a woman security guard with a handgun at a busy superstore before fleeing with thousands of pounds.

Two men confronted the Securicor guard as she returned to her van, parked by the cashpoint machine at Tesco Extra in Pitsea.

The robbers grabbed the cashbox, thought to contain around £15,000, and leapt into a car before racing off into traffic.

One of the men was wearing a dark beanie hat with his coat collar turned up, while the other had dark hair, a brown top and was clean shaven. There may have been a third person involved as getaway driver.

Police appealed to witnesses to the robbery, which happened at 11.40am on Friday, to come forward They also want information about the getaway car, a silver Audi A4 TDI, registration LX04 XBN.

* Phone police on 01268 532212.

Published Monday, November 28, 2005