A Epsom newsagent employee has quit his job and vowed to 'never work in a shop again' after a man held up the store with a knife.

David Williams, 67, had just opened D& P J Reading newsagent, in Waterloo Road, when an unidentified man dressed ‘head to toe in black’ entered the premises at around 6.45am on August 14 with a knife.

Mr Williams was apparently threatened by the suspect with the weapon as he demanded to know where the cash till was kept.

Sandra Hill, 57, whose family have owned the shop for 47 years, said: “It was lucky no one was injured - it was my partner who was working but the intruder just wanted money.

“I live on the premises and [David] rushed up to me, but because I had paper boys coming at 7am I had to finish getting dressed and prepared myself for the worst and came down about 6.55am but he had gone.

“Only his eyes were visible and he was wearing gloves so there are no fingerprints so obviously it wasn’t on the off-chance - he had clearly planned something.

“He got away with a small amount of money but I just don’t know how much because I wasn’t working and David will not talk about it.”

The police were called to the scene at 6.45am and according to the owner must have arrived within seven minutes but the suspect had gone.

Ms Hill said: “I am just glad I paid money and had the CCTV fitted because it is all on there and the police now have it.”

“It is all so bizarre I don’t what he thought he was going to get because we are a small shop.

“It was all odd from start to finish because a delivery guy came in just about when he was about to leave and must have caught him by surprise and I think because the delivery man didn’t panic and got on with his job he was OK”.

Ms Hill told Epsom Guardian that another incident did occur around 35 years ago when her father was in charge but she said she still ‘never would imagine this happening to such a small shop in Epsom’.

She added: “It’s all very raw – it was not nice at all.

“We did use to open at 5.30am but things have changed since and I won’t open until 7am now and even with that I am reluctant to open but I have to because of my home deliveries.

“I watch my customers be born and grow up here - the fact that he came in and I am sure never let go of that knife.

“My partner will never work here again now.”

Chris Grayling, cinservative MP for Epsom and Ewell, said: "I am appalled to hear about this unprovoked knife attack, I will be working with the authorities to try and find the individual responsible.

"My thoughts are with Ms Hill and her partner."

Surrey Police said the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information should call Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference 45170088786, or use the online reporting system https://report.police.uk/

Alternatively the independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.