DETECTIVES are hunting a hammer-wielding raider who burst into a petrol station, jumped on the counter and ordered the terrified cashier to hand over money.

By James Mortlock

DETECTIVES are hunting a hammer-wielding raider who burst into a petrol station, jumped on the counter and ordered the terrified cashier to hand over money.

The early-morning robber pulled the hammer from his back pocket and raised it above his head shouting for cash seconds before trying to leap over the counter at the Total garage in Newmarket Road, Bury St Edmunds, towards the frightened worker.

But the raider failed to get over the counter and turned and fled the scene – leaving the male cashier shocked but unharmed.

Officers hunting the man believe he torched his getaway van shortly after the raid in the nearby village of Fornham All Saints.

A police spokesman said: "The offender entered the Total garage at just after 7am on Saturday with a scarf covering his face. He walked up to the counter and pulled a hammer from his rear trouser pocket, raising it above his head and demanding money from the till.

"He then attempted to get over the cash desk."

The spokesman said the attempt to get to the cashier on the other side of the counter failed and the man then ran from the kiosk empty-handed.

However, he stressed: "This was a very nasty incident whereby the offender entered the garage with the intention of committing a robbery. He was armed with a hammer with which he threatened the cashier, causing him to fear for his safety."

The worker was last night still too upset by his ordeal to talk about what had happened but the garage was open as usual.

The police spokesman said the raider drove off in the direction of the town centre but detectives believed the white van, which had a logo on the side, was the same Peugeot vehicle found burned out at Fornham later on Saturday morning.

The raider was white, in his mid 20s, 5ft 6in to 5ft 7in tall with collar-length, mousy hair.

He was wearing a blue baseball cap, a blue scarf across his face, a blue fleece-style jacket and black trousers.

The van used by the man is thought to have been stolen in Bury on Wednesday.

The police spokesman appealed for anyone with information to come forward: "Anyone in the area of the garage at the time or in Fornham All Saints a little later may have seen something and we would urge them to get in touch."

Witnesses should call police on 01284 774100 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.