Staff at a Norwich corner shop were subjected to a terrifying ordeal as they were held up at gun point by a man wearing a Halloween mask.

Two shops assistants were on duty at Kim's Food and News, on the junction of Dereham Road and Gladstone Street in Norwich, when the raid happened at about 9.30pm on Sunday.

The robber was carrying what is believed to be a handgun and wearing the type of ghost mask made famous by the Scream series of horror films.

He made off with cash from the till and scratch cards. Nobody was hurt in the robbery but a member of staff told the Evening News: 'It makes you nervous every time somebody comes in the shop.'

Residents reported hearing sirens around the time of the robbery but said they were unaware of what had happened until yesterday morning.

Officers from Norwich CID are appealing for information following the armed robbery.

The suspect was wearing a red hooded jumper, navy tracksuit bottoms and white trainers at the time of the incident. He also wore plastic/latex gloves and the Scream mask. He was holding a blue carrier bag.

Det Con Louise Tucker, at Norwich CID, said: 'I would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the robbery or has any information concerning it.'

It the latest in a number of robberies in Norwich in recent months. In February a shop worker at a newsagent on the corner of Hall Road and Trafalgar Street, Lakenham, was injured fighting off a hammer-wielding raider.

The previous month a shopkeeper at the Happy Shopper Waterloo Food and Wine Shop was also injured after attempting to stop two men stealing the till from his shop.

Anybody who witnessed the incident or who may know the person responsible should contact Det Con Tucker on 0845 4564567 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Do you have a crime story for the Evening News? Contact crime correspondent Ben Kendall on 01603 772423 or email ben.kendall@archant.co.uk