Appeal after attempted robbery

Police say the man held up a Happy Shopper store

Detectives are appealing for witnesses to an attempted armed robbery in Bedfordshire.

A Bedfordshire Police spokesman said a masked man held up the Happy Shopper store in Stotfold with a handgun.

The offender burst into the shop on Regent's Street in Stotfold at about 1340 BST on Thursday.

Carrying what appeared to be a handgun, he demanded that the store manager hand over cash from the till.

Made escape

When the staff member refused there was a scuffle, before the robber made his escape empty handed.

It is not known in which direction he ran, or whether a car was waiting for him, but police are hoping to hear from anyone who may have seen him either entering or leaving the store.

The man they are looking for is described as white, aged between 16 and 20.

He was wearinga black balaclava and light coloured top.