A YOUNG shop assistant was subjected to a terrifying ordeal when a robber pointed a gun at her and demanded cash from the till.

Customers froze in horror as the trembling assistant, a 20-year-old university student, handed over several hundred pounds. The man then ran from the Kwik Save supermarket, in Gowthorpe, Selby, clutching the handgun and cash. The incident happened just before 6pm on Saturday. The robber made a purchase at the check-out before approaching a cigarette kiosk near the shop's exit.

He pulled a handgun from his pocket and pointed it straight at the female assistant, a Leeds University student who works at the store at weekends.

Shoppers - including a woman and her three children - watched in disbelief as the young woman was forced to hand over the day's takings from the kiosk.

Police said the assistant was in shock and extremely distressed but physically unharmed. Detective Sergeant Dave Pegg, of Selby CID, who is leading the investigation, said: "The girl was absolutely terrified. The shock has now turned to anger that someone should put her through such an ordeal. We are anxious to trace him because he could strike again."

Store manager Robert Peckover said it had been a traumatic experience for the young assistant, but she was determined the robber would not win the day and was planning to return to work tomorrow.

Detectives today issued a description of the armed robber. He is said to be white, aged 20 to 25, 5ft 8ins to 5ft 10ins, and of thin build, with collar-length straight light brown hair with blond highlights. He was wearing a grey or beige jacket.

Updated: 10:38 Monday, December 17, 2001