THIS CCTV footage shows the terrifying moment a masked robber threatened a shop worker with a knife before stealing money from a till.

Police have released the video of the incident, at the Martin's newsagents, in Abbey Road, Popley, on December 24.

The robber entered the store at 7.30am and demanded cash and cigarettes, before making off with £200 in cash and several boxes of cigarettes.

The 29-year-old manager of the shop, who did not want to be named, told The Gazette: “He came in with a knife in his hand and said he wanted money from the till.

“I had to go to the till and get the money, and then he said he wanted cigarettes. There wasn’t a lot of money in the till because I had only just opened.”

She added: “He seemed a bit nervous and I don’t think it was planned. It was scary but that is the second time that has happened to me working here.”

The manager said that after the last robbery, in November 2011, she left the country, but has since returned to work in the store.

The robber was wearing a black coat with the hood pulled up and a bandana across his face. He also wore blue jeans and blue trainers.

Detective constable Nick Hines, at Basingstoke police station, said: “This type of incident is relatively rare in Basingstoke. There may have been several people going to work or getting a newspaper at the time of the robbery.”

Anyone with information should contact DC Hines at Basingstoke police station on 101.

*Police arrested a 29-year-old man from Basingstoke in connection with the incident but released him with no further action.