Masked gang beat shop assistant with metal bar

Three men wearing balaclavas stormed into the Co-operative store on Moorcroft Road, Woodthorpe, York, and threatened two assistants with the metal bar.

One member of staff was hit with the weapon, but not seriously injured.

The raiders forced the staff to hand over several coloured cash bags containing coins ranging from 5p to £1, before escaping.

North Yorkshire Police are urging a number of people standing outside a nearby food takeaway at the time of the incident at 9.30pm on Friday to contact them.

Det Con Mo Mohammed, of York CID, said: “I am appealing for members of the public who were in the Moorcroft Road area on Friday night between 9.15pm and 9.45pm to get in touch. They may not have witnessed the incident but may have vital information which could help the investigation.”

The robbers were all white men and aged in their mid-20s. Witnesses should call 101.