A REWARD up to £5,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the gang that targeted the Stoney Cross service station last month.

Three men forced their way through the rear door of the Esso garage, where two employees were working, on Saturday February 17, around 4.25am.

One of the staff working in the service station, which is situated on the westbound carriageway of the A31, was assaulted with a crowbar.

The victim was treated for a head injury at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

The charity Crimestoppers and The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) have put up the cash reward.

Crimestoppers head of operations Dave Hunter said: "Nobody going into their place of work should feel unsafe, so it’s terrible to hear of these two employees finding themselves in such a vulnerable position.

"Both employees have been left badly shaken by their ordeal and one of them has ended up in hospital, this is not right. I would ask anyone with information from that morning, to do the right thing – speak up and help keep your community safe.

"Contact our charity anonymously and tell us what you know. We won’t judge. Won’t ask any personal details. We’ll just pass on what you know.”

Contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through the non-traceable anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.