TWO young mothers were today recovering from a terrifying robbery ordeal in a York fish and chip shop.

A masked man escaped with around £200 in cash after charging into Frier Tuck's in Haley's Terrace, Yearsley Bridge, and threatening one of the women.

He told her he was carrying a weapon, and demanded she hand over cash from the till, and then fled. He had a scarf wrapped round his neck and face.

There were no customers in the shop and the second woman was in the kitchen when the robbery took place, just before 7pm on Saturday night.

The shop was closed for the rest of the night while police started their investigations, but it was due to open again at tea time tonight.

Shop manager Jonathan Newdick, who went straight to the shop on hearing the news, said he was in shock.

"I'm very concerned for the two girls," he said.

"I've known them for quite a few years and they're both good members of staff and they've been petrified by what was a horrible incident."

Frier Tuck's was set up by Mr Newdick's grandfather, Frank, more than 60 years ago, and has another branch in Heworth.

Jonathan Newdick said: "This is the first time this has happened to us. The girls are just deeply shocked by it. I obviously feel now that the girls that work in the shop will be very nervous working at night. The other members of staff will be really horrified by it. I'm going to have a staff meeting and we can discuss what we're going to do.

"We always have two members of staff on at any one time. We are aware that we sometimes have drunk people coming in late at night and the girls are very careful, but this was still daylight. It just shows how there are some very desperate people out there."

He said the two women were both young mothers in their 20s.

Neighbours in Haley's Terrace were shocked by the crime on their doorstep but none said they saw the culprit make his escape.

Eric Quinn, of Haley's Terrace, said he had seen police cars arrive and blue-and-white tape being stretched across the shop.

Detective Inspector Phil Metcalfe, of York Police, said: "These women were badly shaken up by the incident. It is most unusual to hear of an incident like this in a fish and chip shop.

"If anybody has any idea who this person might be, please contact us."

The suspect is described as being in his early 20s, about 5ft 6in and wearing a dark-coloured hooded jacket, with a dark-coloured scarf round his neck and face.

Anyone with information should contact York Police on 01904 631321.