AN ANGRY shop owner has hit out at callous armed robbers who struck at a family-run store in Essex. Two people – a woman and her teenager daughter – were dragged at gunpoint into the Spar store in Swan Street, Sible Hedingham, by balaclava-clad raiders who then stole cash and alcohol.

AN ANGRY shop owner has hit out at callous armed robbers who struck at a family-run store in Essex.

Two people - a woman and her teenager daughter - were dragged at gunpoint into the Spar store in Swan Street, Sible Hedingham, by balaclava-clad raiders who then stole cash and alcohol.

Two shop assistants were also inside at the time and despite being unhurt, were left shocked at their ordeal at the hands of the men who were carrying what appeared to be a shotgun and a wrench.

The two people who were forced inside the shop managed to escape as the raid took place at about 6.10pm on Sunday.

It was revealed yesterday the men, who escaped in a stolen Vauxhall Astra, stole less than £200.

The owner's son-in-law, who also runs a store, said he was appalled at the total disregard the robbers had shown for their victims.

Steve Jeggo, owner of the Spar in Braintree said: "The workers were not physically hurt but we will be talking to them in the next few days to see if they need any help or counselling.

"This kind of thing is both upsetting and worrying. I don't know what the heck you can do to stop it. There seems to be no answer other than standing in the shop with a 12-bore shotgun.

"What greatly concerns us is that incidents of this nature are quite common in the immediate area of late and the police are working flat out to apprehend the idiots that are doing it."

Mr Jeggo urged any people who saw any of the events to contact detectives with information, however small it may be.

He added: "The amount stolen shows you what sort of idiots there are out there, the amount they got is the maximum they would ever get from any of the stores.

"They do not realise what they are doing to people, or they are totally inhuman."

The Braintree Spar was hit by raiders in September and October last year, with an axe-wielding gang striking in one of the incidents.

Police said yesterday they believed a third person could have been involved as the get-away driver.

The robbers used an H-registration Vauxhall Astra, stolen from Second Avenue in Sudbury less than an hour before, to make their get-away.

The car was later found abandoned in Recreation Road, Sible Hedingham where it is thought the robbers switched to another vehicle.

The man with the gun was about 5ft 3ins, with a blue hooded top with jeans and trainers.

Anyone with any information about the stolen car, the raid or the vehicle switch should call Braintree police on 01376 551312 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.