Detectives are appealing for witnesses following an attempted robbery at a convenience store.

The victim, a 51-year-old man, was working at the Roystons Express store in Waterhouse Lane, Chelmsford at around 4.20pm on Monday, April 20, when the suspect entered the shop.

The man, who was brandishing a 10 inch kitchen knife, approached the till and ordered the victim to open the till and hand over cash.

As the victim leant forward the suspect leant over the counter and tried to stab the victim, causing a superficial cut to the victim’s lower back.

The suspect then fled the shop and nothing was taken.

Police searched the area in the aftermath of the incident and are carrying out house to house enquiries.

Ds Nathan Hutchinson of Chelmsford CID said: "The victim was extremely fortunate to have only received a superficial injury but has been through a terrible ordeal nonetheless.

"The area would have been busy at the time so we would like to hear from anyone who may have seen a man matching this description in the area before or after the attempted robbery took place.”

The suspect is described as a white man, around 5ft 10ins/11ins tall who spoke with a Northern accent. He wore a black hooded jacket, a cap with a white logo on its peak, gloves and possibly blue tracksuit bottoms with white stripes on the side.

Witnesses to the attempted robbery can contact detectives at Chelmsford CID on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.