Staff at a County Durham shop have been left "shaken" after a knife-wielding man threatened a worker and snatched cash from the till.

Officers were called to the Lifestyle Express store, on Main Street, at around 9.45am on Friday after reports of a knifepoint robbery. 

A man had entered the shop with a concealed knife, which he used to threaten a member of staff before escaping on foot with cash from the till.

No-one was physically injured during the incident.

Durham Constabulary confirmed it has launched an investigation, with officers carrying out forensic examination of the scene on Friday. 

Reports suggest there were several police vehicles at the scene all morning, with one eyewitnesses saying there was a "police van and car" parked outside the store around 11am. 

A Durham Constabulary spokesperson said: "Police are investigating a robbery at a shop in Shildon.

"Shortly before 9:45am today, we received reports of a knifepoint robbery at the Lifestyle Express shop in Main Street.

"A man entered the shop with a concealed knife, which he used to threaten a member of staff. He then escaped with cash from the till and left the area on foot.

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"No-one was physically injured during the incident, but the victim was left shaken by the robbery.

"Police are investigating the incident and are carrying out forensic examination of the scene as well as make house-to-house enquiries and examining CCTV footage from the area.

"If anyone has any information, they should call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident 97 of June 28."