POLICE are hunting a gunman who carried out a terrifying daytime robbery at a Hampshire convenience store where children were among the customers.

Police rushed to the Co-Operative store in St. Vigor Way, Colden Common after reports of a man holding up a cashier at the store and demanding money.

Armed officers were seen in the area along with sniffer dogs and an arson task force van was also parked close to the scene.

A police helicopter circled around Colden Common and nearby villages.

Staff at the store looked visibly upset following the incident, and did not want to talk to the Daily Echo.

Police taped-off an area just outside the store yesterday afternoon following the incident at around 1.30pm and they continued to patrol the area late into the evening.

A concerned woman said her two children were in the store and were “traumatised” by what had happened.

She posted on Facebook: “I’ve got 2 x 12 year olds traumatised! relieved someone managed to get them out and home.”

Colden Common Parish Council chairman, councillor Richard Izard, said: “Of course I am concerned.

“I understand that there were children in the Co-Op at the time and someone got them out.

“There were lots of police when I was up there and I am seeing one of the officers tomorrow.

“The co-operative has been broken into before but has not had an armed robbery. It must have been terrifying for the staff at the store.”

A staff member at nearby The Mayflower takeaway in St Vigor Way said: “I was shocked about the robbery. I came here at 3.30pm and I saw the police outside and I asked what has happened and they said there was robbery.”

The staff member added that the Co-Op has had a number of robberies in the past.

A resident who asked not to be named, said: “The store has upped the security. There is a lot going on in the area and there have been house break-ins on a regular basis.”

Joe Charrett, 18, from Colden Common said he saw the police helicopter circling in the area after the incident.

He said: “I was at work when I saw the police helicopter going over, I saw a dog unit going past and lots of police. I was shocked about it, but the Co-op has been done over in the past but never in the daytime.”

Sam Nelson, 17, from Colden Common said he saw a huge police presence at the store just after the incident happened.

He said: “I came here five minutes after it happened and I saw the police cars and the sniffer dogs, saw the helicopter and the dog unit and knew something was going on.”

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: “We were called at 1.34pm to reports of a robbery at Co-op on St Vigor Way, Colden Common.

“A man, who was reported to be carrying what was described as a small black gun, made threats to a cashier before leaving the store with cash from the till.

“Officers are currently in the area making enquiries.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information should contact police immediately on 101.