A KNIFEMAN left staff and customers at a hair salon terrified as he stole cash and jewellery tonight.

The robbery happened at Divalution in Duke Street, St Helens at 6.15pm (Thursday, December 19). A lone offender is believed to have entered the salon armed with a knife.

He threatened a staff member and said he wanted cash from the till. He then demanded cash from a customer and another employee before running off towards the Lidl supermarket.

The victims were not injured, but both women were left extremely shaken after being threatened and ordered into a back room of the salon while he fled.

The robber is described as a white man, late 20s, wearing a grey hooded top with a red logo or markings on the front.

He was also wearing blue jeans and Adidas trainers and may have been carrying a small purple bag, which he is believed to have stolen from the customer, containing jewellery.

Patrols are currently searching the area for the offender and detectives are carrying out house-to-house enquiries.

Detective Inspector Martin Earl, said: "Robberies of this type are rare in St Helens and thankfully no one has been hurt on this occasion.

"However, two women have been subjected to a terrifying ordeal where they have been threatened with a knife and ordered to hand over takings and their own personal money and valuables.

"Officers are searching the area for a man matching the description given and I am appealing for anyone who was in the area of Duke Street, at what is a busy time of the evening, to contact us if they saw anything suspicious either just before or just after 6.15pm.

"The force is committed to cracking down on crimes against local businesses and we are doing everything possible to catch this man."

Call St Helens CID on 0151 777 6038, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.