A COOL-headed shop assistant refused to hand over cash to a would-be robber armed with a knife.

Police want to hear from anyone who saw the masked thief as she fled from the Premier shop on the junction of Cricklade Road and Whitworth Road.

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PC Jonathan Kilburn said: “This was a terrifying incident and the victim was understandably shaken up.

“I’d like to reassure the public that this was an isolated incident and we have been carrying out extensive enquiries since it happened to identify the person responsible.

“I’d like to appeal to the public for any information. The woman is described as white, 5 ft tall, wearing a black jacket with a brown fur trim around the hood. She was wearing black, white and grey baggy trousers with vertical stripes and was covering her face with a scarf or piece of cloth."

Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, January 8, the woman is said to have entered the Pinehurst Premier shop. She pointed a knife at the shop worker and demanded he hand over money from the till.

The shop worker refused and the woman fled in the direction of Whitworth Road.

Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.