THIS is the moment that armed robbers stole hundreds of pounds in cash from a Nythe convenience store.

The incident happened at the Nythe Mini Market, in Sherbourne Place, on Wednesday when the trio, who are believed to have been carrying at least one knife, threatened a worker and ordered him to open the till.

The CCTV footage shows three men, all dressed in hooded grey overalls with their faces covered with a black material, taking £275 in cash, as well as alcohol and cigarettes, from the store at 9.23pm.

At least one of them had a knife and co-owner of the store, Sivalingham Rajan, said he did not try to stop them.

“They shouted ‘open the till’, I didn’t argue,” he said.

“I just put my hands up and put my back against the wall. They took about £275 worth of notes.

“They also took five bottles of alcohol and some packets of cigarettes.”

Mr Rajan, who has worked at the store for about eight years, said nothing like it had ever happened there before.

“I was quite shaken up,” he said.

“Sometimes people take a bottle but never like that, I was shocked.

“They all looked the same. When I opened the till I was very upset,” he said.

The incident was over in about one minute and nobody was hurt. Mr Rajan, who returned to work the following day, has made a statement to Wiltshire Police.

DC Gregory Farmery, who is in charge of the case, said: “Three males entered the store and made demands of the person that was behind the counter.

“They have then gone through the till and then taken various other items from the store.”

DC Farmery said that after leaving the store the group ran along The Drive, and towards Kimmeridge Close, Nythe.

He said officers have been examining CCTV footage from the night and were keen to hear from anyone who may be able to help police with their investigation.

“I am looking for witnesses to the event and I am also looking for anybody who recognises the suits from a family member or friend,” he said.

Anybody with information on the people involved, or any other information, should contact the duty detective sergeant at Wiltshire Police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.