TERRIFIED staff at a Trowbridge shop were powerless to stop knife-brandishing thieves from stealing nearly £1,000 from the place.

Two men entered the One Stop shop in Marston Road at 9.05pm and threatened members of staff. One of the men was carrying a knife.

Nobody was injured during the robbery, where the thieves made off with the money from two tills, but they were left extremely shaken by what happened.

Both men were white, aged between 18-24 and around six feet tall. The first man was wearing a black, close-fitted jacket with a single rib on the shoulder and a small white motif on the rear, just below the collar.

Beneath this he was wearing a grey hooded top, with the hood up and the drawstring pulled tightly around his face, and a black scarf or balaclava covering his face. He was also wearing dark trousers and red gloves with dark palms.

The second was wearing a dark red hooded top with the hood up and the drawstring pulled tightly around his face, with single white vertical lines across the shoulders. He was wearing black tracksuit bottoms with a white drawstring and black gloves.

Police have released CCTV images of the two men, who carried out the robbery on March 1, and are appealing for information.

DC Anthony Swift, from Melksham CID, said: "This was a very frightening incident for those working in the shop that evening and, although nobody was injured, they have been left feeling shaken and concerned.

"Since the robbery we have been carrying out an extensive investigation, including forensics and house-to-house enquiries and are now at the stage where we can release CCTV to ask for the public’s assistance.

"We are urging people to look at the pictures carefully and read through the descriptions of their clothing. Do either of these men look or sound familiar?

"We want to reassure the public that we are carrying out a thorough investigation and are working hard to find the two men responsible.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Swift at Melksham CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.