A SHOPKEEPER has spoken of his shock after being held up at knifepoint.

The incident, which is the third knifepoint burglary in a week, happened at Best-one Xpress, in Clifton Street, at 3.05pm on Saturday.

The two men entered the store and demanded money, as well as various other items from the shop.

Store manager Alif Mohammed, said: “It was very scary.

“I thought first they were playing with me, and I started to laugh but when they came behind the counter and threatened me I knew they were serious.

“They came in asking for cash. One of them came behind the counter and was threatening me with the knife and kept saying they wanted money.

“At first I just showed them an empty box, but then they asked me to open the till. They took money and cigarettes, then left and headed out of the store towards town.

“I was surprised because it was daylight but at that time we are quite quiet, maybe they knew that.

“We have a very friendly community so it is all a bit of a shock.”

The man carrying the knife was wearing a grey-hooded top, which is described as having a sequence of numbers in black on the left breast, and was wearing grey jogging bottoms.

The second man was wearing dark tracksuit bottoms, with three white stripes down the legs, and he was wearing a dark blue quilted jacket with a grey hooded top underneath.

It is thought they headed in the direction of Radnor Street and Kingshill after leaving the shop.

Police said that the cashier has a good relationship with people in the area and has been left shocked that an incident like this could happen to him in broad daylight.

There have now been three knife point robberies in the Swindon area within a week.

Last weekend two youngsters, thought to be aged 16, targeted two Esso garages, one in Kingshill and the other in High Street,Royal Wootton Bassett. They were carrying a nine-inch blade.

It is not yet known if the three incidents are related.

Anyone with information on the identity of the offenders, or who witnessed the incident, is asked to contact with Detective Constable Megan Kenzie, of Wiltshire Police, on 101. Alternatively, anyone with relevant information to offer can call Crimestoppers, where information can be left anonymously, on 0800 555 111.