A LONE young shop worker was subjected to a terrifying knife robbery sparking a large-scale police operation in Ambleside today.

A man went into The Village Store Co-op on Compston Road at opening time at 8am and threatened a junior female shop assistant with a knife before making off with several hundred pounds in the direction of Millans Park.

Within minutes of the robbery, police began to pour into the area but as the Westmorland Gazette went to press last night the thief, who stuffed the cash into a holdall before leaving on foot, was still at large.

The woman, who has not been named by police, was in her 20s and alone at the time of the robbery. She was not injured but was left shaken by the ordeal.

A spokesman for United Cooperatives the company which owns The Village Store said: "She was obviously upset and we sent her home for the day. We will be doing everything we can to help her. We take staff and customers security very seriously and we will be reviewing this incident carefully."

Police Crime Scene Investigators at the scene were joined by local inspectors who began conducting door-to-door inquiries while police dog handlers scoured the area for clues.

The shop was closed for more than two hours as police carried out a search and investigation in the store.

Inspector Tudor Griffiths of Windermere Police was at Compston Road carrying out inquiries. He told the Westmorland Gazette he was too busy to comment.

The robber is described as 5ft6, stocky build, wearing a navy hooded top and dark jeans. He was carrying a dark coloured holdall, which was possibly maroon.

News of the robbery also left shop owners in the busy Lake District street shaken.

Staff at The Village Store said they had been instructed by their head office not to speak to the press but described the incident as "very scary".

Sarah Middleton of YHA Adventure - the shop directly opposite the scene of the robbery - said: "I have been told he had a great big knife. There police were everywhere when I arrived at work this morning. They have been in to talk to us and given us a description the man."

Cumbria Police spokesman Mike Head said: "As is the case with many Lake District robberies there are only so many access routes that the thief could have taken. We are in the process of investigating all possibilities."

Anyone with information should contact Kendal police on 01539 722611.

May 8, 2003 16:30