A young cashier had a knife held to his throat during an armed robbery at a petrol station in which cash was stolen.

Sohail Mohammed was behind the counter of the Save petrol station in Manningham Lane, Brad-ford, when a man walked in and pretended to buy a bar of chocolate.

As the unsuspecting 20-year-old opened the cash register, the attacker took out what is described as a "large knife" and held it against the neck of the terrified worker.

The robber grabbed the till's cash tray which had more than £100 in it and ran out of the shop.

Today detectives at Bradford South CID appealed to anyone who was in the area around the time of the robbery, and who may have seen the distinctive raider, to contact them.

Detective Constable Ray Copeland said: "The robbery happened at about 9.35pm on Saturday so we would like to hear from anybody who was in the area around that time.

"The robber was wearing gloves and fled on foot so somebody might have seen him running away down Manningham Lane after the robbery."

Jabit Khan, who owns the petrol station, had left the shop only hours earlier but was called by Bradford police who told him what happened.

He said: "I was at home when the police telephoned. I drove down to the petrol station and there were officers everywhere.

"Sohail was very shaken but thankfully he was unhurt.

"It appears the robber threatened him with the knife - I think by holding it to his neck - before running off with the till tray.

"This is the first armed robbery we've had and it is very unsettling.

"I just hope somebody comes forward with some information so this man can be stopped before he really hurts someone."

Anyone with any information on the incident should call Det Con Copeland on (01274) 376083.