DETECTIVES are not ruling out a link between two vicious robberies in the same town in the past week.

The first raid saw two men, one armed with a knife, hold up a general store in Cannock, Ouston, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, on Tuesday night, before making off with £35.

Similar methods were used two days later when two men robbed a general store in Ouston.

This time two young men, one brandishing a claw hammer, threatened a terrified woman shop assistant at Somal's Store, in Bradley Close, on Thursday afternoon.

One man entered the store just before 3pm and asked the shop worker for cigarettes.

As she turned round he produced a claw hammer and threatened to use it if she did not open the till.

The woman, in her 30s, handed over a bundle of £10 and £20 notes to the robber who fled the store.

His accomplice, who had been waiting just inside the shop door out of the view of security cameras, left with him.

The robber who made the threats was wearing a dark blue baseball cap with a USA logo and a dark blue fleece jacket.

Both items were later recovered from nearby Walter's Wood.

Police say he was of average height and build and had dark hair.

The second man was 5ft 6in with a medium build, wearing a cream top. Both were in their late teens or early 20s.

Detective Inspector Andy Davis, of Chester-le-Street CID, said: "This was a very nasty incident which left the shop assistant shaken."

Anyone with information is asked to ring Chester-le-Street CID on 0191-375 2306, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111