A DELIVERY driver tried to fight off a robber who stole hundreds of pounds of a shop's takings.

Despite the driver biting the hand of the thief in a bid to get him to drop a bag of cash, the man was not put off.

He struck at the Ninety-Niner store in Sussex Square, Walcot, in broad daylight.

The police helicopter was scrambled to search for the robber at about 11am on Friday but he remains at large.

A member of staff at the shop, who did not want to be named, said: "The driver came in for the takings and went back to his van.

"A few minutes later he came running back round and said he had been robbed.

"It was all the takings from the shop and he took his wallet with his credit cards and everything.

"He was really shaken up."

Police said the thief had stolen between £400 and £500.

"The driver was just sat in his van," the member of staff said.

"Before he had chance to close the door this man had put his hand in.

"They struggled but he was bigger than the driver. The driver bit him trying to get him to let go but it didn't work."

She said a man on a bike had been seen riding past the shop a number of times before the robber struck.

"He must have known what our driver looks like," she said.

"He must have been watching, he wouldn't have known otherwise."

Insp Ian Bamber, of Swindon police, appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

"The victim was sat in a car at the rear of the shop when it happened," he said.

"The male came up and opened the door and asked him for the time.

"He then grabbed the bag from him and ran off.

"Obviously we are looking to see if we can find him and we are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

"The victim is obviously a bit shaken up but not hurt."

The man was white, of slim build, and wearing a white top, blue trousers and white trainers.

The bag of cash he ran off with was a black rucksack made of nylon.

Anyone with information should call Swindon police on 0845 4087000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.