A TERRIFIED village shop worker has described how two men burst in armed with a gun and threatened her.

The par raided Ash’s Convenience Express in Colchester Road, West Bergholt, shortly before 7pm on Tuesday and threatened the woman who was working with a hand gun and demanded she hand over money.

The shocked worker emptied the till - which contained a three figure sum of cash-and the pair fled.

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said she was stunned.

She said: “It was 6.50pm and two people came in with their faces covered with their hoods.

“One of them had a gun - I wasn’t sure whether it was real or a toy but I had to assume it was genuine.

“He was pointing it towards me and he kept saying ‘I just want the money - just give me the money.’

“They stood right next to the counter with a bag and I put whatever I had in the till into it.

“I tried to distract them by saying there was somebody coming and there was someone else in the shop.

“It happened so quickly - it was over in much less than five minutes.

“They kept asking where all the other money was.”

One suspect was described as black, aged in his early 30s and between 5ft 10ins and 5ft 11ins tall.

He was slim, had acne scars on his face and stubble and wore a black tracksuit.

The other was described as black, aged in his early to mid 20s, clean shaven and wore a black tracksuit.

As the pair left, the brave worker followed them out of the store.

She added: “I think I was working on autopilot.

“I ran out after them as I was on the phone to police.

“I wanted to see where they were going or if they were getting into the car.

“I just saw them run off into Chapel Road.”

Police were on the scene within minutes and stayed for several hours while investigations began.

Several village shops around Colchester have been targeted in recent weeks.

Masked robbers - including one with a Spiderman disguise - threatened shop workers at the Co-op in Regent Street, Rowhedge, in March.

Bungling burglars also used chains to heave an ATM from Great Horkesley Village Store in The Causeway before abandoning it in the car park.

Ash’s Convenience Express opened as usual yesterday and the woman said she was aware of other stores being targeted.

She said: “You have to try to carry on.

“Our customers and people in the community have been fantastic.

“We have had so much support already.”

“It seems as if shops like these are being targeted.”

Anyone with information should call Colchester Colchester CID on 101 quoting reference 42/56185/18 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.