A TERRIFIED woman was marched into a back room at gunpoint and forced to hand over £400 during a dawn raid on a Poole newsagents.

The shop assistant, in her early 30s, is recovering at home following yesterday's shock raid at the McColl's store in Alder Road, Branksome.

A man wearing a balaclava and brandishing a handgun stormed into the shop at 6.15am as she marked up the morning papers.

McColl's area manager Patrick Wills said she was treated violently and ordered to lie face-down on the floor.

He added: "There was absolutely no need for this as she was completely compliant. It doesn't make sense.

"This guy got away with just £400 in coins. What do you get for armed robbery? Ten years. I mean, is it worth it?

"We have sent her home as a matter of course and we are reviewing shop security."

Detectives, who have scoured shop CCTV footage, think the robber - a 6ft man wearing a workman's jacket and black trousers - may have had a getaway car parked nearby.

This is the second time the shop has been the scene of high drama. In November, a police pursuit ended when a car driven by a 15-year-old boy ploughed through the newsagent's window.

After the robbery, forensics teams carried out a fingertip search of the store and it had opened for business as usual by mid-morning.

Mr Wills, who has worked as area manager for two years, says the Branksome store has never been targeted like this before.

"We have the odd bit of trouble from rowdy kids, but nothing like this," he added.

Det Sgt Jo Williams, of Poole CID, said: "No shots were fired and the shop assistant was left uninjured.

"The robber made off from the store on foot in a northerly direction towards the Sainsbury's superstore.

"We don't know whether the weapon is real or an imitation and so advise anyone who sees the offender not to approach him but to dial 999 straight away."

Police also want to speak to any customers who visited the store, as they may hold vital clues to the gunman's identity.

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