A pet shop worker has been robbed at gunpoint. The terrified assistant was held up in broad daylight on Tuesday in the Pet Supplies store in Mirfield, West Yorkshire.

Police believe the raider, who escaped with cash, was armed with a handgun.

The drama happened in mid-afternoon at the store in Lee Green.

No one was injured but the victim was left shocked.

The area was sealed off as scenes of crimes officers and forensic experts were called to the lock-up shop.

Police also carried out house to house inquiries in the area.

They believe the man may have been loitering around the shop shortly before the raid.

Det Insp Stef Wiseman, of Kirklees CID, confirmed an investigation was under way.

She said: “Police were called to Lee Green, Mirfield, at 2.35pm on Tuesday following a report of an armed robbery at a pet shop.

“A man, who was armed with what is described as a handgun, stole a small amount of cash from the till.

“The suspect is described as a white man, aged in his late teens to early 20s, wearing a dark hoody and dark-grey scarf over his face.

“Anyone who saw a man matching the suspect’s description in the Lee Green area around the time of this offence is asked to call Kirklees CID on 101”.