Shopworker threatened with 'shotgun'

A shopworker's screams thwarted a man she claims had a shotgun during an attempted robbery at a store.

The woman, who lives in Bournemouth, had just arrived at the Co-Op shop in Northmead Drive in the Creekmoor area of Poole, Dorset, about 0545 BST on Friday, when a man demanded to be let in.

She believes the man, whose face was covered, was holding a shotgun under a "light-coloured cover".

Detective Sergeant Jez Noyce of Poole CID, said: "When the woman screamed the man ran off in the direction of Oakmead Road.

"I would be very interested to hear from anyone who was in the area of the Co-Op and saw either the incident, a man acting suspiciously or the man in question running off."

Armed police officers were called to the scene after the alarm was raised by a delivery driver on behalf of the woman, in her 30s, but there was no sign of the armed man.

"The woman was uninjured and did not need any medical treatment but she was very shocked and shaken," added Detective Sergeant Noyce.

Anyone with information should contact the police immediately.