DETECTIVES hunting a man who robbed a seafront shop at Felixstowe today released an E-fit photo of the suspect.

Richard Cornwell

DETECTIVES hunting a man who robbed a seafront shop at Felixstowe today released an E-fit photo of the suspect.

Officers renewed their appeals for information about the incident - hoping someone will come forward who saw the man running away and will be able to identify him.

The thief grabbed cash - less than £100 - from the till at Underwoods Newsagents in Felixstowe and ran off towards the seafront.

Sixteen-year-old shop assistant Ryan Miller gave chase but the robber vanished into the night.

Police with tracker dogs and the force helicopter searched the area after the robbery at the newsagents and tobacconists in Beach Station Road around 6.40pm on Wednesday November 19.

Police say the robber was white, aged in his late 30s to early 50s, around 5ft 10ins tall, of stocky build, with greying hair and grey/dark stubble.

He was wearing a grey hooded top and blue jeans.

A police spokeswoman said: “We are asking residents to take a look at the E-fit to see if they recognise the man involved.

“If they were in the area at the time and saw a man meeting this description or anyone has information about the incident they should get in touch.”

People should call Felixstowe CID on 01473 613500.

Shop owner Anne Robinson said when the man left the newsagents he ran towards the seafront and then turned right towards the flats in Sea Road.

The man did not brandish a weapon but had his sleeve pulled down over his hand as if he might be hiding a weapon.

“The police were very good and came immediately. The main thing was that nobody was hurt, though they were very shaken,” she said.

Shop manager Norma Aston said: “Ryan did the right thing - we always tell the staff, just let them take the money.

“Safety is the main thing because you never know what they might do.”