AN ARMED robber is being hunted after he threatened a shop assistant with a meat cleaver and forced her to fill a bag with cash.

The raider, who was wearing a hooded top and a scarf across his face, entered Kempshott Post Office and Store at about 6.30pm, brandishing the deadly blade.

He demanded the assistant hand over cash and made off with more than £600 in notes, taking them in what police believe was a Tesco carrier bag.

The woman, who has worked in the shop in Pack Lane for five years, was alone serving behind the till when the incident happened last Wednesday.

Darren McGregor, manager at the shop, told The Gazette of his shock and disbelief. He said: "I left the shop at about 6.10pm and another member of staff left five minutes after me, so I had only just got home when I got a phone call from the shop assistant.

"She told me that a man came in with a meat cleaver in his hand, holding open a carrier bag, and told her to put all the notes from the till into it. She did and then he just walked out of the shop."

Mr McGregor, who lives in Beggarwood, Basingstoke, said: "He literally just walked out of the shop, which, to me, says that this was planned and organised."

Mr McGregor, who manages the shop for his father, said that the shop assistant - who does not want to be named - called him as soon as the robber had left the shop.

"She was in quite a state, so I just got in my car and got there as quickly as I could," he said.

"I rang the police on the way and they were there within minutes."

The shop, which is usually open until 8pm, was closed immediately after the incident while police searched the area.

Mr McGregor said that the shop assistant remains "extremely distressed and very upset" by the incident, and is still thinking about whether she will return to work.

He added: "If it's going to happen, then it will, but you never think it will happen to you.

"We have been here for 10 years and never had any trouble before."

Police have issued a description of the robber. He is described as white, aged between 20 and 30 and about 6ft. He had pasty white skin, blue eyes and fair hair, and was wearing a dark-coloured hooded top and a scarf around his mouth and nose.

Detective Constable Sion Margrie, of Basingstoke CID, said: "Thankfully, the woman was not hurt during this incident, but she has been left very shocked by what has happened to her.

"We treat incidents where weapons have been used with the utmost seriousness."

Police have carried out house-to-house enquiries and are appealing for anyone with information to contact Det Con Margrie, at Basingstoke CID, on 0845 045 4545.