A NEWSAGENTS was robbed by a man who claimed he had a gun.

Martins in Ballards Walk, Basildon, was targeted at 3pm today by the suspect who walked into the store and demanded money - after telling the staff he had a gun.

The female member of staff didn’t see a weapon and the man snatched money from the till and ran off. The woman was uninjured.

Despite firearms officers scouring the area they did not find the crook.

He is described as white, 5ft 3ins to 5ft 4ins tall, of medium build and aged in his mid 20s. He wore jeans and a dark short sleeved t-shirt, woolly hat, scarf and dark woollen gloves.

Anyone with information is asked to contact officers at Basildon CID on 101.