STAFF at a Kidderminster supermarket were shut in a freezer during a robbery in which a substantial amount of cash was stolen.

The incident happened at Asda, in New Road, at about 10.20pm yesterday. Police would not reveal the sum of money that was taken.

The store was open but there were no shoppers inside at the time.

Four men wearing hoodies and scarves over their faces entered the store and told staff to put their hands on their heads. One of the men grabbed a member of staff and dragged him to the safe, threatening to shoot him and made him unlock it.

No gun was seen although one of the men was armed with a claw hammer.

They took a quantity of cash and the six staff were then led to a freezer in the warehouse, made to empty their pockets of their wallets and phones and then shut inside.

The staff were only in the freezer for a few moments before they were able to free themselves.

Three of the men wore black hoodies and the fourth was wearing a grey hoody. All four wore black scarves across their faces and black gloves. They are believed to be Asian men with Black Country accents.

They made off in a silver hatchback, possibly a Seat Leon, up New Road the wrong way to the Worcester Road roundabout.

Det con Jake Wright of West Mercia Police said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for the staff, who were shaken but luckily unhurt. It is also very fortunate they were not in the freezer for very long before they were able to get out.

“We are appealing for anyone who saw the vehicle outside the store, or anyone who saw it make off and can tell us where it went from the Worcester Road roundabout.”

Anyone with information should call DC Wright on 101, quoting incident 756-s-020614, or call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.