Two young shop staff endured what police have called an "incredibly frightening experience" when armed raiders struck at a Wirral store.

The robbery took place on Saturday night at around 9.45pm when two men entered the Co-op in Upton Road, Claughton, while staff were preparing to close.

One of the men was carrying a blue plastic bag containing what has been described as "some kind of weapon" and threatened the 24-year-old cashier with it before demanding money.

The raiders then ordered the woman and her 26-year-old male colleague to the back of the store while they stole more cash from an office.

The pair then fled in a car believed to have been driven by a third member of the gang.

The first man, who was armed, was white, around 5ft 8ins, well-built, aged 19 or 20. He was wearing a black Gore-Tex jacket, black tracksuit bottoms, black trainers and a ski-mask over his face.

The second was of similar age, slightly shorter and slimmer and had distinctive brown eyes.

He too wore dark clothing and a ski-mask covering his face. Both men spoke with local accents.

The two victims were not hurt during the incident but both were left feeling intimidated and scared by their ordeal.

Detective Inspector Mark Tivendale from Birkenhead CID said: "This was an incredibly frightening experience for these two young people who were just going about their work when these men have burst in.

"They appeared to have a weapon concealed in a bag and used it to intimidate the cashier into giving them all the cash in the tills.

"We believe the pair were helped by a third person who was waiting in a car outside, which they have used to get away.

"The whole incident was over very quickly but must have been a terrible ordeal for the victims.

"We are actively hunting this pair and their accomplice and I would appeal for anyone who witnessed the robbery or saw a car being driven suspiciously in the area to contact us."

Anyone with information should call CID on 0151 777 2265 or Crimestoppers anonymously 0800 555 111.