POLICE have said they have 'clarified' that a robbery at an Oxford cornershop did not involve a knife – contrary to reports at the time.

Avtar Singh Laltuvwal, who manages Uni Food and Wine on Frideswide Square, told the Oxford Mail that three men who entered his store on Sunday, July 22, demanded free drinks and had ‘a massive knife’.

He and several witnesses said they phoned the police immediately but complained that no one attended.

Thames Valley Police said at the time that it had not sent any officers because it had no reports of a weapon in its log.

In an update yesterday, the force said that ‘further enquiries clarified’ that ‘this was not a robbery involving a knife’.

Spokeswoman Louisa Maher said in a statement: "Thames Valley Police can confirm again, this was not a robbery involving a knife.

"No use of a weapon was ever reported to Thames Valley Police and further enquiries clarified this."