TWO masked raiders who held up a convenience store while armed with a sawn-off shotgun have been jailed for a total of 12 years.

James Van der Vord, 32, and Kevin Lowe, 39, were two of the three robbers who targeted the Barmston Convenience Store, in Washington, on January 14.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how they burst into the store and ordered the terrified staff and customers, including two young children, to lie on the floor. They demanded money before raiding the stock for cigarettes and alcohol.

The court heard how the proprietor, who was upstairs, watched the terrifying events unfold on security cameras and dashed down to hand over more cash.

The court heard how Van der Vord, who served 15 months for robbery in 1992, pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing a sawn-off shot gun at the time of committing the offence.

The raiders made their way, with a holdall packed full of goods and more than £700 in cash, to the home of Graham Foxton, 33. There, they dismantled and hid the gun before handing over some of the cash to buy heroin.

Foxton, admitted possessing a firearm when prohibited to do so. It was accepted he had nothing to do with the raid and that "trouble came to him" when he agreed to have the weapon hidden in his garden.

Lowe also pleaded guilty to robbery and had agreed to act as a witness for the prosecution if asked to do so.

Van Der Vord, of no fixed address, was sentenced to seven years behind bars.

Lowe, of Waskerley Road, Washington, received five years, and Foxton, of Stockley Road, Barmston, received 18 months.

Due to the amount of time already spent behind bars, the sentence meant Foxton would be released immediately.

Judge Esmond Faulks said; "The fact this was not an individual attack but there were three makes it that much more terrifying."