POLICE are searching for a knife-wielding robber who held up a female assistant at a wine merchant's shop and stole a small amount of cash.

The raider, carrying a wooden-handled, long-bladed knife, struck at Hutton's wine merchants in Silverdale Road, Tunbridge Wells, at about 10.40am on Wednesday.

After choosing confectionery from a display, he suddenly pulled out the knife and told the assistant to hand over cash from the till.

He then ran off in the direction of High Brooms railway station. The shop assistant was shaken by the incident, but otherwise unhurt.

The robber is described as a white male, about 25-years-old, wearing a white baseball cap, a black scarf and a black or blue jacket which reached below his waist and appeared too big for him.

Anyone able to help police trace the suspect is asked to contact them on 01732 771055 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.