A KNIFE-WIELDING robber left shop staff terrified after holding up an Alldays shop in Trowbridge.

Store manager Darren Owens, 30, spoke of how the robber kept lunging at him with a carving knife as he tried to hand over the shop takings.

He said: "I felt threatened as he was going for me constantly. I felt he was trying to stab me. Every time I tried to open the tills he went for me. I was just thinking 'stay calm and give him what he wants'." The robber went into the store at just after 5pm on Wednesday, approaching the till to demand cigarettes.

When staff tried to hand over the cigarettes he produced a large carving knife and demanded the money, walking out of the store with more than £250.

Mr Owens, who has worked in the Seymour Road store for seven months but only became manager six weeks ago, said the incident had left staff scared and frightened.

He said: "He tried to get on the counter but couldn't get over because it was too high.

"One of the staff was in hysterics and some customers went to go out but I kept them in and locked the door so he couldn't get back in."

Police arrested a 20-year-old youth just a few hours after the attack. PC Adrian Burt said: "A male has been arrested in connection with the robbery but no charges have been made at this time.

"This incident could have had far more serious consequences."