TWO thieves who masked their faces with scarfs brandished a fake gun at a terrified Midland shop assistant before making off with hundreds of pounds.

Police today appealed for witnesses to the incident, which happened at the local store, in Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove.

The thieves - a man and a woman - struck at around 2.30pm on Christmas Eve, said a West Mercia Police spokesman.

"The pair went into the convenience store and threatened a shop assistant with what may have been a plastic gun," he added. "They escaped with around £300 in notes and coins from the till and are thought to have run off together towards Victoria Road.

"The shop assistant was badly shaken up by this and it's obviously a terrifying and upsetting thing to happen to someone at any time, let alone on Christmas Eve.

"We have good descriptions of what the offenders were wearing and are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information that can help us track down those responsible."

The male thief was described as aged around 20, around 6ft 2ins tall, skinny, with short brown hair and brown eyes.

He had a black scarf around his face and also wore a white or beige hooded top with the slogan Russell Athlete in red writing on the front. He spoke with a local accent.

The woman was white, 5ft 2ins tall, skinny, and was wearing a green hooded jacket, baseball cap and had a scarf covering her face.

Anyone with information should call 08457 444 888 or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.