BALACLAVA-CLAD thieves stole cigarettes during a raid in a shop in Widnes.

Shortly after 6.30pm on December 6, three men wearing balaclavas entered the Spar store on Ditchfield Road carrying a large bin.

One of them jumped over the counter and filled the bin with cigarettes.

The three men then left the store, which was open at the time of the incident and was occupied by several customers and members of staff.

The offenders got into a white Kia Sportage parked outside the shop and fled along Ditchfield Road in the direction of Hough Green.

The car travelled to Netherley Road in the direction of Liverpool.

The three offenders were all around 5ft 11ins.

One of them had a heavy build and was wearing a blue waterproof jacket over a grey hooded top, grey tracksuit bottoms, black trainers and black gloves.

Another had a medium build and had on a black zip-up jacket with a grey stripe down the arms, black bottoms, grey trainers with a white sole and light coloured gloves with a black palm.

The third man was wearing all black clothing, apart from light coloured gloves with a black palm, and he had a slim build.

Detective constable James Simpson said: “This was a frightening incident for all those who were in the shop at the time.

“We are determined to catch the offenders and make them face the consequences of their actions and I urge anyone with information that may aid our ongoing investigation to get in touch."

Anyone with information that may help detectives with their investigation, no matter how small, should call Cheshire Police on 101, quoting IML 261567.