Axe raiders hit Aldridge Tesco Express for haul of cigarettes

Four axe-wielding robbers threatened staff at a Tesco Express in Aldridge and stole cigarettes. Police have appealed for witnesses and are trawling CCTV.

Officers were called to the shop in Paddock Lane at 10.40pm on Wednesday, 20 minutes before the shop was due to close at 11pm.

Lee Page, spokesman for West Midlands Police, said: "Four offenders with an axe threatened staff and then jumped over the counter and stole a quantity of cigarettes.

They got away in a white Ford Focus RS."

Bosses at Tesco today said they could not reveal how many cigarattes had been stolen or their value.

Officers were called to the scene at around 10.40pm, just around 20 minutes before the shop was due to close at 11pm. The store was open as normal yesterday.

Aldridge councillor John Rochelle today said: "This is bad news, especially that they had an axe.

"I would just urge anybody who has any knowledge that might be helpful to the police, if they pass it on to them as soon as possible."

Wednesday night's attack comes following a string of raids at Co-op stores across the region. Five Co-op stores have been targeted in the past month with branches in Tividale, Wombourne, Brewood and Tipton all hit.

Anyone with information is asked to call West Midlands Police on 101.