THREE teenagers have been arrested in connection with an armed robbery at a newsagent in Durham City.

A shop assistant was threatened with a knife after two young men burst into J&L News on Willowtree Avenue in High Grange Estate, near Gilesgate, at around 4pm on Wednesday.

No-one was hurt, but the incident has left the woman, who is in her 50s and lives locally, very shaken.

Jon Hollingsworth, who has owned the store for six years, said: “A couple of guys came into the shop and one of them stood in the door way.

“The other approached the counter and threatened the woman who was working with a knife and spoke to her in a rather aggressive way.

“He asked for money. It was just as she was cashing up and they did not get very much.”

Mr Hollingsworth said the incident was captured on the CCTV camera, which is clearly visible in the store.

He said: “It is not about the amount they have taken for me though. It is about the effect it has had on the woman. She was very shaken up and very upset.”

Debbie Nelson, 46, of Gilesgate, who also works in the shop, said the incident has made staff anxious about coming to work.

She said: “I was a bit nervous when I came in the day after. Every time the door goes I look up to see who it is and people are in and out all day.

“It happened at around 4pm and children do come in after school.

“There could have been kids in here. It does not bear thinking about.”

Police have arrested three young men, aged 15, 17 and 18 on suspicion of robbery.

Detective Sergeant Stephanie Bird, of Durham CID, said: “This was a very frightening experience for the woman working in the shop.

“She was left badly shaken and upset by the incident.”

DS Bird said investigators would like to hear from anyone who was in the School View or Bradford Crescent areas of Gilesgate shortly before or after the time of the robbery.

She said: “If anyone saw anything suspicious, or unusual, in the vicinity of the shop at that point of the afternoon I would urge them to contact us.”

Durham City CID can be contacted via the non-emergency number 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.