POLICE have cordoned off a shop following an incident.

Forensic officers are currently working at the scene in McColl's in Water Lane, Totton, but declined to say what had happened.

A nearby resident described the shop as an "easy target" and said: "You feel a bit intimidated because you think it's happened so many time over the years."

Another neighbour said they heard the shop's alarm go off at about 6.10am today.

She said: "I looked out of the window and saw four blokes coming out of the shop and getting into an orange car.

"I feel sorry for the people working in the shop."

A Hampshire police spokesperson said: “We were called to McColl’s on Water Lane shortly before 6.15 this morning.

“Four men who had their faces covered had stolen cash and cigarettes. Nobody was hurt.

“Enquiries are ongoing. Officers would like to speak to anyone who saw a red Ford Eco Max with the registration beginning HN66.

"Anyone who saw that in the area should call 101 quoting incident 93.”

A force spokesman said it is completely unrelated to an incident at McColls on Water Lane  when four men stole cigarettes from the same store on April 30 shortly before 6.15 in the morning.

Craig Ham, 25, of no fixed abode, has been charged with robbery following the earlier incident.