A VOLUNTEER charity shop worker was left bruised and frightened after she was grabbed by the throat during an attempted robbery in March.

The would-be raider entered Open Chest, in Broad Street, just before 4.30pm on Wednesday. He grabbed the woman by the throat and yelled at her to open the till.

The shop manager’s husband heard the disturbance and hauled the man away. The offender then broke free and ran off towards Darthill Road empty-handed.

Another member of staff, who did not wish to be named, said: “We were all out the back and we heard a scream. We thought it was a child at first but then we heard her shouting for help.

“The man just kept shouting at her to open the till but the poor girl didn’t know how without making a sale. Then he saw us coming and made a dart for the door.”

The man is described as white, in his early 20s, 6ft 2in, well built, with short dark hair and a round face. He was wearing a dark-hooded top with a red panel to the front, jeans and trainers.

Shop manager Kathy Dudley said the worker had been “badly bruised” in the incident.

“It was really nasty,” she said. “It has upset everyone that was here.”

Det Sgt Matt Swash said: “Although the victim wasn’t seriously injured she has been left extremely shocked by this incident.

“There would have been a number of people in the area at the time of the robbery and I would urge anyone with information about this incident to contact police.”

Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.