POLICE are asking the public to help them identify a knife-wielding man with a scarred face who stole £300 from an Alldays store in Southampton.

Between 7.10pm and 7.25pm on Saturday, two members of staff were serving customers in the shop in Burgess Road. One of the assistants went to the store-room at the back of the shop and was confronted by a man brandishing a five-inch double-bladed knife.

He moved threateningly towards the member of staff, who turned and went back into the shop. The robber ran out the back with around £300 in cash. He was seen getting into the back of a white hatchback car, possibly a Citroen, which was being driven by a man with a woman front-seat passenger.

The robber is described as white, aged 18-20, with a slim build and was unshaven.The shop assistant describes him as having fresh scarring on his forehead and both cheeks as if had recently been in a fight. He was wearing a white long-sleeved sweatshirt, faded blue jeans and had short blond hair.

"Disturbing a man brandishing a knife is obviously a very distressing experience and it is fortunate that no-one was injured in this incident," said Det Sgt Simon Baker.

"This robber appears to have very distinctive cuts or scars on his face and we urge anyone who thinks they know who he is to contact us as soon as possible."

Anyone who recognises the description of the robber, or saw a man or a car matching the above description in Burgess Road on Saturday evening should ring DS Baker at Bitterne CID on 0845 045 4545, or the anonymous Crime-stoppers line on 0800 555 111.