A masked man stole money and threatened a shop worker with a "firearm" at a Stoke-on-Trent off-licence.

The incident happened at around 8:40pm on Friday 11 April at Stoke-on-Trent Super Market on Newcastle Street, Middleport, with the man making off from the store with a small amount of money from the till.

The man, thought to be around 22 to 25 years old, threatened the shop worker with a firearm and put a plastic bag on the till.

Officers from Staffordshire Police are now trying to track down the man following a forensic examination of the scene. It is not known at this stage whether the firearm used was an air weapon or not.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "It happened at about 8.40pm on Friday (11 April) when a man wearing a balaclava walked into S H Groceries on Newcastle Street, Burslem, and put a plastic bag on the till.

"He pulled out a firearm and threatened the shop worker.

"We're not sure at this stage whether or not the firearm was an air weapon.

"Following a struggle, we believe the offender took a small amount of cash from the till before leaving the scene.

"No-one was injured.

"We've carried out a forensic examination of the scene and have got detectives carrying out enquiries to find out who the suspect is.

"He is described as white and looked about 22 to 25-years-old. He was wearing a black tracksuit with large white lettering over the groin area."

Anyone with any information that can help the investigation is asked to get in touch. Call 101 or use Live Chat on the Staffordshire Police website, quoting incident 739 of 11 April.

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