A ROBBER wielding a sharp screwdriver held up two petrol stations in Weymouth.

He fled from Weymouth Service Station in King Street empty-handed after being challenged by a member of staff but struck at the Shell garage at Redlands 20 minutes later where he forced the cashier to hand over £100.

The raids come less than a week after a masked knifeman threatened staff at a Portland garage and made off with cash.

Details of the crimes and the description of the robber are similar but police say they are keeping an open mind about whether they are linked.

The robbery in King Street happened at around midnight on Saturday.

No-one from the petrol station would comment on the incident although Detective Sergeant Gary Hole, of Weymouth CID, praised the bravery of the member of staff who challenged the robber.

He said: "A white man of skinny build entered the petrol station and produced a screwdriver but before he could say anything the member of staff challenged him and the man fled.

"The member of staff was extremely valiant but it is not the course of action we would recommend. A screwdriver can be a dangerous weapon and the member of staff risked being injured."

DS Hole said the robber fled in an old-style Austin Metro and about 20 minutes a man of the same description robbed the Shell garage at Redlands.

The male cashier, a 40-year-old dad who did not want to be named, said a man threatened him with a sharp screwdriver.

The cashier's 36-year-old girlfriend and a taxi driver were also in the garage at the time.

The cashier said: "A man walked in and told the people in the shop to get down on the floor. They thought he was joking and ignored him but then he said that if they wouldn't get on the floor he was going to stab them.

"Then he came up to me and told me to hand over the money in the till. I didn't argue with him. It was a big screwdriver and I thought he was going to stab someone.

"He asked for phone cards as well but we didn't have any."

He said the robber wore a deerstalker's hat, was very spotty, aged between 25-30 years-old, with blond hair, and spoke in a northern accent.

The cashier added: "It was all over within a few minutes but it was terrifying.

"I'm still shaking now."

Police are also investigating a burglary at a Weymouth garage which happened early today.

Raiders stole a quantity of cigarettes after gaining entry into the Texaco garage at Broadwey.

A red Maestro seen in the area was later recovered north of Dorchester containing the cigarettes.

Anyone with information about any of the incidents is asked to call Weymouth CID on (01305) 226642.