Detectives have appealed for information after masked robbers stole a safe from a service station in Durham.

The robbery happened at the Jet garage in Bowburn, Durham, at around 12.15am on Monday, November 30.

A female shop assistant was at the rear of the premises when she was confronted by four men wearing balaclavas.

The men left with a quantity of cash after taking the safe. The woman’s car was stolen during the robbery and found abandoned nearby at Grand View.

The car is a silver Vauxhall Astra registration number KH07 USV. The safe stolen from the garage was found near to where the Vauxhall Astra was abandoned.

Detective inspector Dunny McCubbin said: “This was obviously a terrifying incident for the woman and we would urge anyone who has any information either about the robbery or the abandoned car to get in contact.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting incident number 0004 of 30/11/2015 or they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.