AN armed robber held two shop workers at gunpoint while he stole hundreds pounds from a garage in Kingsclere.

The gunman ordered Perinpanayagam Rathakrishnan and Srikantha Manickavasagam to hand over cash from the till at the Texaco garage at the west Kingsclere service station at 8.50pm on Saturday.

Mr Rathakrishnan, who lives in Swan Street, Kingsclere, told The Gazette that the man, who he describes as wearing a black balaclava and blue overalls, ran into the store and jumped up on the counter, pointing the handgun in his face.

Mr Rathakrishnan, 32, said: "He told me to take the money out for him. I didn't really think he was going to shoot me because his main concern was the money - but you can't take the risk."

Mr Rathakrishnan's co-worker Mr Manickavasagam, who also lives in Swan Street, was working in the storeroom when the incident occurred.

Mr Manickavasagam, 44, said: "I heard a strange noise of voices and I thought someone was telling a joke.

"When I peeped round I saw the man and he saw me, and he made me go into the main shop.

"It was really scary because he had a gun. You just want to save your life, and really the money means nothing."

The robber stashed the money in a bag and ran off along the A339 in the direction of Basingstoke. The exact amount taken is yet to be confirmed.

DC Tim Chappell said: "This incident provoked an armed response from the police because of the seriousness of the firearm being used.

"This man is dangerous and I would appeal to anyone with any information to come forward. The A339 is a busy road. Someone must have seen something."

Anyone with any information can call DC Chappell, at Basingstoke CID, on 0845 0454545.