Police are on the hunt after a three-figure sum was stolen from an Irvine store where a shop assistant was threatened with a knife.

At around 7.30am on Thursday 31 January, a 48-year-old man was working within ‘Your Local Store’ in Irvine's High Street when a man entered the shop.

He threatened the shop assistant with a knife and demanded money.

The culprit then ran out of the shop with a three figure sum of cash and was last seen heading towards Kirk Vennel in Irvine.

He is described as white, 5ft 10, medium to heavy build and was wearing a grey hat, black scarf, a navy hooded top and tracksuits bottoms.

The shop assistant although uninjured was left extremely upset.

Detective Constable Jennifer Carruth at Saltcoats CID said: “This was obviously a very distressing experience for the shop assistant and therefore it is vital that we catch the culprit as he may strike again.

“I urge anyone who perhaps recognises the description of the suspect or may have seen him hanging around the area around the time of the robbery to contact police immediately.”

Anyone with information should contact police at Saltcoats via telephone number 101 quoting incident number 0521 of 31 January 2019. Alternatively calls can be made to Crimestoppers on 0800 111 555 where anonymity can be maintained.