A Hampshire store was held up at gunpoint as a robber made off with £11,000.

The gunman walked into the front of a Hampshire Co-op store before walking straight to the back of the shop and producing a handgun.

He forced two members of staff into a room at the rear of the shop and repeatedly punched a 28-year-old male member of staff in the face.

The suspect then forced the same member of staff to open the safe whilst pointing the gun at him and then forcing him to disconnect the CCTV system.

The man made the three members of staff get into a store cupboard before leaving the store with the money and the video recording equipment.

The staff member who was punched was seen by paramedics but did not require any further medical attention.

The two other staff members, a 28-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man were uninjured, but were left shaken.

The man police are hunting is described as white, in his 30s and 6ft tall of a slim build. He spoke with a northern accent and green or blue eyes. He was wearing a rucksack and a black scarf around the lower part of his face, a black three-quarter length coat with Security' written on the back, and woollen gloves.

The robbery happened at 4.15pm on Easter Monday at the Co-op store on Kingston Road, Portsmouth.

Detective Constable Dave Anderson said: "This kind of serious incident is rare in Portsmouth, but it was a vicious attack that has left those involved badly shaken.

"Kingston Road is a busy road and there would have been a number of people around when this incident took place who may have seen the man carrying a metal box.

"I would urge anyone who saw the man, or who may have seen or found the metal box of the video recording equipment, which is similar to a computer tower, in the vicinity of Kingston Road to contact police as soon as possible."

Anyone with any information in relation to this incident should contact DC Dave Anderson at Fratton police station on 0845 045 45 45 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.