POLICE are hunting for these masked suspects who made off with a substantial amount of cash after threatening staff with a knife and a crowbar at a village shop.

Dressed in boiler suits, three men also took cigarettes from McColls, on the village green in West Auckland, near Bishop Auckland, before running off.

The incident happened at 9.55pm on Thursday, February 28, five minutes before the convenience store was due to close.

Staff were unhurt but were left distressed by what happened.

The first suspect was wearing a light coloured all-in-one suit zipped up at the front, a black balaclava, dark gloves and black trainers and was carrying a red plastic bin bag.

The second offender was wearing a dark blue boiler suit with a grey hooded top underneath with the hood up possibly covering a black balaclava, light coloured/yellow gloves and black trainers with a white stripe down either side.

The third suspect was wearing a light grey zip up hooded top over a black balaclava, light grey/blue bottoms and dark shoes/trainers.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Detective Sergeant Andy Reynolds on 01325-742311 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.