Police officers, a dog unit and a helicopter from the National Police Air Service (NPAS) all attended following a robbery at a Dorset service station, but the assailant escaped.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses to come forward following the robbery at Highland Service Station in Ashley Road in Parkstone, Poole, on Monday 16 May.

At around 2.29am a man entered, threatened a member of staff and demanded money from the till. A quantity of cash was stolen. No weapon was seen.

The offender is described as white, five feet six inches tall, of slender build, with ginger hair and was unshaven. He wore a pale blue hooded top with the hood up.

Officers, assisted by the dog unit and NPAS helicopter, attended and searched the area, but no arrests have been made.

Detective sergeant Scott Johnson, of Bournemouth CID, said: “I am appealing to anyone who was in the Ashley Road area in the early hours of this morning and who may have seen anything suspicious, or someone matching the description given, to please call me on 101.”

An investigation is under way and detectives are keeping an open mind as to whether the same offender was responsible for the robbery at Central Convenience Store in Ashley Road the previous day.

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101 quoting incident number 16:17. Alternatively, call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.