A robber wearing a balaclava and carrying out a knife-point raid on a Co-op early this morning was mistaken for a bread delivery man.

The woman staff member inside the store in West Ewell at 5.30am initially thought he was there to deliver bread before she realised her mistake and that he was carrying a knife.

The robber then grabbed the terrified woman, threatened her with the weapon and forced her to show him the safe. He took the cash and escaped. 

Epsom and Ewell Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team said the incident took place at the Co-op in Ruxley Lane at 5.30am.

The team posted on Facebook said: "Sadly the female victim thought the male suspect was the bread delivery man wearing a high-vis jacket."

It is not known how much money was stolen.

The robber was 5ft 8in and had a regular build.

He wore a peaked cap, a yellow and orange hi-vis vest, dark trainers, and a blue denim jacket and jeans.

Detective Constable Paul Overton said: "This was a frightening incident for the shop worker who has been left terrified as a result.

"We are carrying out a number of enquiries and will leave no stone unturned in our attempts to bring this offender to justice.

"I would appeal for anyone who saw anything suspicious at the time of this incident or before or after it to get in touch with us immediately.

“The smallest details could prove vital to our investigation.”

An employee at the store, at 138 Ruxley Lane, declined to comment on the robbery.

It is located on the edge of the Watersedge estate near Epsom and Ewell High School.

Anyone with information should call Surrey Police on 101, quoting reference 45150017536.