A shop owner has told of how a masked man held up his store at knifepoint - leaving staff and customers 'shaken'.

On Friday, April 19 a masked man entered Maceys convenience store and newsagents on Abbotsbury Road and threatened a staff member at knifepoint, demanding money from the till before fleeing.

This incident - which sparked a major police response including helicopters, an armed response unit and a forensic van - has left staff and customers of the newsagents reeling.

Dorset Echo: Five police vehicles were outside of Maceys following the incidentFive police vehicles were outside of Maceys following the incident (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Geoffrey Ellis has owned the Maceys with his wife Maria for the past 37 years. He was not in the shop at the time, but has spoken of the incident. Mr Ellis said: "There was just the one member of staff with a customer in the shop. She was very shaken up.

"He came in and he waved his long knife - it was about a foot long - in the direction of the member of staff and went up to her. A member of the public who was there asked him to calm down.

Read more: Weymouth knifeman hunted after Maceys robbery, Abbotsbury Road

Dorset Echo: CCTV footage captured the incidentCCTV footage captured the incident (Image: Geoffrey Ellis)

"The staff member opened the till for him and he pulled out a small amount of money and some tobacco before he left.

"He was caught on CCTV very clearly but he has got a full mask on. It was white with eyes set on it, like a costume mask.

"He was there less than a minute, but he was hanging around here an hour before with his mask on which was very strange.

"We have all been shaken up by this incident, even the customer. I am very sad about the staff member who was there. 

"We have had a lot of good support, messages and people coming to the shop."

Dorset Echo: CCTV footage from the shop shows the masked and knife wielding manCCTV footage from the shop shows the masked and knife wielding man (Image: Geoffrey Ellis)

After the incident five police cars could be seen outside the shop - near the junction with Cromwell Road - with the premises cordoned off with police tape. A police helicopter was also scrambled to help in the manhunt.

Dorset Echo: Armed police also attendedArmed police also attended (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Mr Ellis asks that people check their CCTV cameras and doorbell cameras, and to help the police with their investigation.

"I have been there 37 years. We had break-ins at night but nothing like this recently," added Mr Ellis.

Police say nobody was injured. The shop remains open as usual.

In its last statement on this incident on Friday, Dorset Police said that no arrests had been made.