Hampshire Police have appealed for help in tracing a suspect after he threatened a forecourt cashier with a knife and stole several hundred pounds.

The incident occurred at around 3pm on bank holiday Monday, May 27, when a man entered the Esso Service Station on Sway Road, Brockenhurst, in the New Forest.

He managed to get behind the counter and demanded money from the cashier showing her a knife. He then ran from the store with several hundred pounds.

The man is described as aged in his mid to late 20s and of Asian appearance. He is well groomed with a trimmed beard. He had a London accent and was about 6ft 2 inches tall and stocky.

It’s believed he had some sort of tattoo or mark on the left side of his neck. He was wearing a blue beanie type hat and black sunglasses. He also wore a grey/black woollen knitted jumper with a distinctive white pattern on the front and back, and with blue jeans.

Officers have released two CCTV stills of the suspect and are asking anyone with any information about who he may be to contact them.

Detective sergeant Ian Craddock said: “This was a traumatic experience for the cashier and we are keen to find the man responsible. As it was a sunny day, we are hopeful that this man would have stood out from the crowd with a jumper and beanie hat on.

“I would ask anyone who witnessed any of the incident or saw the man before or after the robbery to contact us.

“I would also like to make it clear that we have no reason at this stage to believe this incident is connected in any way with the armed robbery at the end of last year at Brockenhurst station.”

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact Lyndhurst CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.