TWO terrified women were the victims of a knifepoint carjacking in a Hampshire supermarket carpark.

The women were putting their shopping into their car at the Hedge End superstore complex when they were approached by two men in masks and brandishing a knife.

The men, who were wearing what police described as rubber joke masks, demanded the keys to their victims' high performance silver Audi Quattro.

The robbers then made off at speed in the two-year-old silver Audi, thought to be worth about £23,000, leaving the two women stranded in the car park.

Today a police spokesman said the women - who live outside the Southampton area - did the right thing to hand over the car keys.

"They were very brave to hand over the keys and get out of the way," said the spokesman who added that the victims had escaped physical injury.

"The car park was bustling with Sunday shoppers. Somebody must have seen something.''

Now detectives want to hear from anyone who was in the car park at the Marks & Spencer/Sainsbury's out-of-town superstore complex at Hedge End on Sunday afternoon.

The incident happened at the Marks & Spencer end of the huge car park close to Tollbar Way between 2.45pm and 3pm.

They would also like anyone who may have seen the silver Audi on nearby roads to the shopping complex or on the M27 to contact them.

A detective said: "This was very frightening for the victims and we are keen to track down whoever did this. The offenders may well have been loitering in bushes near Tollbar Way immediately before they confronted their victims."

He added: "We don't get many of these carjacking incidents down here. It is very unusual."

Anyone who can help is asked to contact Hedge End CID on 0845 045 4545 or the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.