POLICE are appealing for help in tracking down two youths who held up the Co-op store on the Herne Farm estate in Petersfield with a crowbar and pickaxe handle.

The youths, who made their getaway in a car stolen from Porchester, are also believed to be responsible for robberies at Grayshott and Beacon Hill.

Petersfield inspector Steve Sargent said the Petersfield robbery took place at 9-33 pm on Sunday.

The two youths, who are thought to be aged between 16 and 17, entered the shop armed with a crowbar and pickaxe and threatened staff.

They made off with two bottles of Jack Daniels and the till containing cash.

The staff were not injured and the youths left the scene in the stolen blue Vauxhall Astra, registration G776 YBY.

Police say the vehicle was seen at a similar robbery half an hour earlier at the Wine Rack store in Beacon Hill, Hindhead.

Police found the car burnt out later that day in Chichester.

A pickaxe was also used to hold up the Beacon Hill store where the two white youths, who covered their faces with scarves, made off with cash, cigarettes and bottles of Baileys.

The first youth has been described as about five feet two inches with blue eyes, wearing a black woollen beany hat, navy blue scarf with white flecks, dark windcheater, cotton jacket, beige cotton track suit trousers white leather trainers and black woollen gloves

The second youth has been described as five feet four inches tall with blue eyes, a shaved head and dark stubble, wearing a light-coloured baseball cap, dark gloves and white trainers.

Last Wednesday evening staff at the Grayshott Wine Rack store in Headley Road were also threatened by two masked youths armed with an axe, who made off with cash.

p Anyone with any information on any of the incidents should contact Petersfield police on 0845 0454545.