Robbers in raid on Tesco Express

Three masked raiders armed with an axe struck at a Tesco Express store, making off with a large amount of cigarettes.

One of the men, who was wielding the weapon, stood guard at the entrance to the Halesowen shop while the other two jumped over the counter.

They helped themselves to boxes of cigarettes before fleeing the scene in Coombs Road in a white car at around 9pm on Tuesday.

Detectives are now hunting for the thieves and are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Police have not yet revealed how much the haul was worth.

Ds Mike Greenland, from the Serious Acquisitive Crime Team in Sandwell, said: "We are interested in speaking to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who remembers seeing the vehicle or the men."