A TERRIFIED shop manager activated a personal attack alarm in her pocket after a would-be robber threatened her with a flick knife.

The thug walked into Martin’s newsagents, in Church Road, Benfleet, at 6.15am yesterday and engaged the staff member in conversation.

Minutes later, when the woman had moved behind the till, the robber produced a flick knife and demanded that she hand over wads of cash.

Thankfully, the quick-thinking cashier managed to switch on her alarm, which spooked the man and caused him to run from the scene empty-handed.

The man, thought to be aged in his 20s, is still on the run from the police.

A colleague at the store, who did not want to be named, told the Echo that the man had actually spoken to the woman about the weather before he pulled a balaclava over his head, and demanded money.

She said: “I think the man was just a chancer, he didn’t actually manage to take anything thankfully.

“He was just some random bloke who came in and even had a chat with the manager beforehand.

“He said something along the lines of ‘oh it’s cold out there’ before he pulled a balaclava over his face and got out a flick knife.

“She had walked behind the till at this point and he had leaned over the counter to try and reach the till.

“He pointed it at her but I don’t think the blade was actually out.

“It must have been really scary, she has gone home for the day now.”

Police are appealing for the public’s help to track the suspect down.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Police were called to reports of an attempted robbery at a newsagents’ shop in Church Road, Benfleet, yesterday.

“The suspect entered the building before demanding money, producing a knife and threatening a female shopworker.

“He fled the scene on foot empty-handed.

“The suspect is described as a white male, aged in his mid-20s, around 5ft 9ins tall, of medium build with short brown hair.

“He was wearing a black woolly hat, blue jeans, black jacket and white trainers.”

So far, no arrests have been made and enquiries are continuing.

Police are appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with information is asked to call Southend CID on 101 or crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.