A JEWELLERY shop manager was stabbed in the neck as he grappled with a masked teenaged raider.

The 45-year-old man and two staff members tackled the robber, who was wielding a large knife.

The manager suffered two wounds to his neck and one to his hand. He was taken to Durham City's University Hospital of North Durham. His injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

The incident happened at about 1pm yesterday in North Road Jewellers, in the city's North Road.

The raider, wearing a balaclava, went into the shop when there were no customers about and ordered the manager and his staff - a man of 50 and a woman aged 41 - to open the safe and lie on the floor.

But a struggle ensued involving all the shop employees. It was then the manager was stabbed, and the raider fled after a spray was used on him.

He snatched a tray of rings, said by police to be of "limited value" and ran to the top of North Road, removing his mask on the way.

Police received a possible siting of him at the city's railway station and asked British Transport Police to search the 1.10pm Newcastle to Bristol train, which stopped at the station, when it called at Darlington. They drew a blank.

The robber is described as white, in his late teens, 5ft 10ins to 6ft, of slim to medium build with a pale complexion and short dark hair shaved at the back and sides and with a slight fringe on top.

He wore a black short jacket and light coloured jeans.

Detective Inspector Andy Reddick, of Durham CID, said: "The raider may have waited outside the shop before going in. There were quite a number of people about at the time in what is usually a busy area of the city. We would like to talk to anyone who might have seen a young man fitting this description hanging about outside the shop, running up North Road or leaving the city by train.''

Anyone with information should call police on 0191-386 4222 or Crimestoppers anonymously on (0800) 555111.