A HOODED raider who held up a Bournemouth petrol station with a meat cleaver was described as 'looking like something out of a horror movie.'

Terrified staff from BP fuel station on Ringwood Road, Bear Cross, spoke of a man picking up a chocolate milkshake on the way to the till, waiting for all customers to leave before brandishing the weapon and asking for money at 6.30am on Friday morning.

Ramanan Sritharan, manager of the station, said that he wasn't present when the incident happened but has since watched the CCTV, after receiving a call from his colleague, John Wall, alerting him to the robbery.

He said: "His eyes were so scary. While the guy scanned the drink, this man pulled out the knife. My colleague said that he looked really scary.

"The cashier was just freaking out. He was so scared."

Colleague John Wall, 66, said that he has worked at the fuel station for 10 years and used the training he has received from Murco, who previously ran the station, to deal with the situation.

He said: "I worked under the Murco owner's operation manual which is to co-operate with their demands, observe them and protect your customers.

"While I scanned the drink, he produced a meat cleaver from his hoodie. He was incredibly polite. He said 'Would you please open your till because I don't want to use this?'

"We only keep £50 in our till overnight, so I think the money he took came to about £42 including the coins. I handed him the money in a carrier bag. He said 'Thank you' and then walked out."

Mr Wall said that the robber was 'distinctive', with white skin and long black hair, aged in his late twenties or early thirties. The man was described as wearing a beige hoodie and brown combat trousers.

He added: "I hope that I never see him again."

When asked whether the incident will prevent him from doing his job, Mr Wall said: "I promise that I will be back in work tomorrow.

"I have worked here for 10 years and have never had anything like this. I could stay off work, but I think in this situation it's best to get straight back on the horse."

Witnesses and anyone with information should contact Dorset Police on 101, quoting incident 24:46 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111