A THIEF wielding a bloody syringe forced a shop assistant to hand over cash at a Lancaster newsagents.

The man walked into a newsagents on Market Street, Lancaster at around 8.25am on Sunday and walked up to the counter before pulling out a hypodermic needle filled with what appeared to be blood.

He threatened the 27-year-old shop assistant with the needle and was able to steal £40 in cash.

The robber is described as male, white, in his early 20s, 6ft tall, of slim build with a thin, gaunt, unshaven face with acne.

He was wearing a cream or grey hooded sweatshirt top with white lettering across the front, and a cream or grey baseball cap.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Lancaster police on 01524 63333 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.