A ROBBER armed with a meat cleaver has struck for a third time in eight days.

The latest incident was at The Local off-licence at Wessex Close, in Kings Furlong, Basingstoke.

Just before 9pm on Wednesday, November 22, a man wearing a scarf around his face entered the shop and threatened a female member of staff with a meat cleaver and a kitchen knife.

He told shop assistant Danielle Phillips, who is in her 20s, to fill a bag with cash before leaving in the direction of Culver Road.

Manager Chris Muster, 31, who arrived at the scene about half-an-hour after the robbery took place, said: "She was absolutely terrified. The robber told her to put the money in the bag and said Don't do anything or I'll cut you up'. It terrified the life out of her.

"He then ran out and she called me and the police."

Mr Muster said another employee, Jim Williams, was in the store room at the back of the shop when the robbery took place, and he added he believed the robber got away with £100 in cash.

Wednesday's incident followed one the previous night at the Co-op store in Buckskin, when the robber escaped with £60 after threatening a cashier with two large kitchen knives.

The crime spate started on November 15, when Kempshott Post Office and Store was targeted by the cleaver-wielding robber in a raid that netted him £600.

Detective Constable Sion Margrie, of Basingstoke police, said he believes all three crimes are linked.

He said: "I would like to assure members of the public that we are working extremely hard to identify the person responsible for these incidents. This sort of crime is extremely distressing for the victims."

The robber, who is described as white and in his late teens or early 20s, was wearing a black hooded parka, a black woollen scarf around his face, blue jeans and black gloves.

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Margrie, at Basingstoke CID, on 0845 045 4545 or call Crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555 111.