A shop keeper was forced to lie face-down on the floor while an armed raider escaped with the takings.

Police officers are hunting for the man who burst into the shop on Darlington's Mowden estate on Friday evening.

The man, was who brandishing a pistol, went into the Alldays store on Fulthorpe Avenue at 9pm.

He ordered the shop manager to lie on the floor and then made the female shop assistant empty the contents of the till into a plastic bag.

He then escaped but police said his haul consisted mainly of coins as the day's taking had been removed earlier from the till.

A police spokesman said: "They had just cashed up so there was not much money in the till. No shots were fired during the incident and no-one was hurt, but we are treating this very seriously."

The man left the shop and got into a car which was parked outside.

Later the same evening a blue Vauxhall Cavalier was found outside a house in Ampleforth Way.

A police spokesman said: "The engine of the car was still warm. The car was recovered and is now undergoing forensic examination."

The man is described as having a goatee beard and moustache and was wearing a baseball cap.

Anyone with information is asked to call (01325) 467681.