A KNIFE-weilding masked raider threatened a female shop assistant before making off with cash during a terrifying robbery.

Thames Valley Police is appealing for witnesses following the incident in Littlemore, near Oxford, on Thursday.

At around 1.50pm a man entered VCR R&Co convenience shop in Oxford Road and began shouting at staff.

He demanded an employee hand over money and waved a black-handled knife in her direction.

A customer who was in the shop managed to escape and contact police.

The shopkeeper handed over a quantity of cash from the till before the offender fled on foot down a nearby alleyway leading to Long Wall.

The offender is described as white, and was wearing a blue jacket with his hood up, and grey tracksuit trousers.

Det Con Charlie Ellis, from Force CID in Oxford, said: “Thankfully the victim was not hurt during the incident but was left shaken.

“We are appealing for witnesses who may have seen a person matching the description or saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area to contact police.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.