A MAN hunt has been launched after an armed robber threatened staff with a gun during a terrfying raid in Ellesmere Port this morning.

Police were called to Loxdale Drive at around 7.25am today, Wednesday, after a man entered a shop brandishing what is believed to have been a handgun.

He threatened staff before stealing a quantity of cash and fleeing the scene.

Officers are currently at the scene and enquiries are ongoing in the local area.

Detective Inspector Debbie Dodd said: "We take all incidents of this nature seriously and are doing all we can to trace the offender.

"It has not been established whether the gun was real or imitation. The weapon was not discharged and no injuries were reported but staff, who were in the shop at the time, were understandably left very shaken by their ordeal.

"We are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident and may have seen anyone acting suspiciously to contact us."

Anyone with any information should call Cheshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 119 August 27or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.