TWO women were held up at gunpoint when a robber stormed a general store in Ferndown and made off with an undisclosed sum of cash.

The women - one aged 40 and one 39 - were working at the Forbuoys newsagents and grocery at Tricketts Cross, Ferndown, on the evening of Sunday, August 14, when the robber wearing a crash helmet threatened them with what was described as an eight-inch black handgun and demanded cash.

The incident happened just before the shop was due to close at 10pm.

The workers, who were uninjured, managed to raise the alarm.

Police are looking for the man, who is described as 6ft tall with a tanned complexion.

He was wearing a new-looking black crash helmet and visor as well as large brown sun-glasses.

Dressed in a zip-up tracksuit top and dark coloured jeans, new-looking white trainers and white latex gloves, he made off in the direction of St Leonards.

Police cordoned off the area around the convenience store for part of August 15 as forensics teams examined the scene.

A sign in the window instructed shoppers: "Due to unforeseen circumstances this store will not be open today.

"Due to an incident here last evening the store will be closed until further notice."

The victims were said to be shocked and too shaken to talk of their ordeal but local resident Susan Munro said: "It must have been terrifying for the girls involved.

"I'm really surprised and shocked. I've recently moved to this estate and find everybody here very polite and friendly although I know it used to have a bad name."

Police interviewed local traders about the incident and examined CCTV footage taken from nearby premises.

Solly Omar, who works in nearby Turbary Wines, said: "We are obviously very frightened that this could happen so close to us and in such a small community."

The store, which operates as a newsagents, off licence and general store, is open daily till 7pm and is thought to have been subjected to a similar raid at Christmas.

A security company was on site yesterday afternoon assessing the alarm systems in place.

Witnesses or anyone with information should call DCI Tony Cox on 01202 222222 or the free and confidential Crimestoppers line where mobile phone tariffs may apply.

First published: August 16, 2005