Cheli Selvanayagam (49) was getting set to open up at Bolsover Service Station on High Street, Bolsover, just after 6am on Friday when the offender walked in.

The father-of-two told Chad's sister paper The Derbyshire Times: "He was holding an axe very tightly, his hand was shaking, and he was shouting that he may do something to me.
"He said 'open the safe and give me the notes'.

"I knew I should just give him the money and stay calm – If I didn't, he could jump over the counter and do something to me.

"It was terrifying."

After the robber had left the premises, Mr Selvanayagam bravely jumped in his car and drove around Bolsover to try and find him.

Said Det Con Steve Topham, of Bolsover CID: "High Street is reasonably busy at that time of the morning and we would urge anyone who saw anything suspicious to come forward.

"The manager was quite shaken up by the incident. No injuries were caused but the mere fact that the guy was carrying an axe was threat enough."

The robber was wearing a black leather flat cap and had a scarf wrapped around his face. He was described as between 5ft 10 and 6ft 3, and of a very stocky build.

Anyone with information should contact Derbyshire Police on 0845 123 3333 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.