Witness appeal after violent store robbery

POLICE are hunting a balaclava-wearing gang of three people after a violent robbery in a West Somerset convenience store.
The robbers are believed to have escaped with cash and cigarettes in the raid on the McColl’s store, in Park Street, Minehead.
It happened at about 8.30 pm on Saturday evening (November 25).
Two men wearing balaclavas entered the store and assaulted one of the staff with a piece of wood or possibly a baseball bat, who suffered minor injuries but did not require hospital treatment.
They then fled in a blue colour Vauxhall Astra car, registration G79 NYC, driven by the third member of the gang.
The car, which earlier had been reported as stolen, was found some time later, abandoned and burned out, in nearby Parks Lane, Minehead.
The robbers may have used a second vehicle, a beige colour 4x4, to leave the Parks Lane area after torching the Astra.
The two men who entered the shop were sketchily described as ‘young’ and between 5 ft 6 in and 5 ft 8 in tall.
McColl’s was recently rebranded after having traded in the town as Forbouys for many years.
It is part of the Martin McColl Ltd group, which includes the country’s largest chain of newsagents with more than 900 stores.
Police are appealing for help from anybody who may have seen the men entering the store or in one of the vehicles involved.
If anybody has any information, they are asked to contact Bridgwater CID on 0845 456 7000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, where they can leave information without giving their name. A reward may be available.