WAREHOUSE staff were threatened with guns, including a sawn-off shotgun, during a robbery this week.

Three men wearing stockings on their heads raided the unit on the Sands Industrial Estate, Swalwell, at 2.35pm on Thursday.

They demanded cash and threatened a male staff member before fleeing empty-handed.

They ran off across a nearby bridge over the River Derwent into allotments, where they got into a red vehicle, which was believed to have been driven off towards the A694 Derwenthaugh road.

Detectives have released descriptions of the men: one was 5ft 5in, of medium build, and wearing a black padded jacket. He was carrying a double-barrelled sawn-off shotgun. Another was white, 6ft, of medium build, wearing blue jeans and a dark blue or black jacket. Their accomplice was also white, 6ft 2in, of medium build, wearing a dark blue v-neck sweatshirt with a black T-shirt underneath, and blue jeans. He was carrying a handgun.

No one was injured, but staff were shocked.

In a separate incident, police are hunting a teenage gunman who held up a video rental store in Gateshead, at 6.15pm, on Thursday.

The youth, armed with a handgun, demanded cash from the assistant at the Revolver video shop, The Square, Whickham.

He stole an unknown amount of money and fled, helped by a second teenager who held open the shop door. The shop assistant was unhurt, but shocked.

The gunman was 16 to 17, 5ft 8in, spotty and had a local accent. He wore a navy blue jacket. The second youth was 16, wearing a yellow Berghaus jacket with a navy pattern on the shoulders.

Anyone with information should call CID on 0191-454 7555.