A KNIFE-wielding robber ran from a village shop after the manager threw cans of beer at him.

Detectives have appealed for information following the attempted robbery at Nisa in Kelvedon Hatch.

The masked man armed with a knife entered the Nisa store in Blackmore Road at about 5.15pm on Sunday, July 29.

He approached a female member of staff, who was serving a customer at the time, and ordered her to open the till.

As the intruder started brandishing the knife at the staff member and customer, the manager rushed out from a storeroom and started throwing boxes of canned beer at the suspect who then fled empty-handed.

Det Con Jo Phillips said: "This was an extremely frightening incident for the shop assistant and the customer who both feared for their safety when the man was waving the knife at them.

"The shop manager was in the storeroom when he heard the disturbance and rushed out and threw boxes of beer at the suspect.”

The intruder was white, aged between 20-30 and about 5ft 9in tall.

He was wearing jeans, a black jacket with the hood up and a dark scarf over his face.

Any witnesses or anyone with information about the suspect is urged to contact Det Con Phillips at the Basildon CID Target Offender Team on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.