A manhunt is underway to find a gun-wielding robber who targeted a series of convenience stores across Buckinghamshire and Berkshire this weekend.

Police have issued an urgent witness appeal following a series of “traumatic” raids in the last 24 hours involving a man threatening staff with a small handgun and, in one case, a machete.

The most recent incident was in Earley at 6.40am today, but an armed robber has also stormed stores in Marlow and Wendover.

The crime spree started at around 11.30pm yesterday when a man entered the Tesco Express store on Tring Road, Wendover.

He was armed with a machete, demanded money from the safe and made off with cash from the store.

Then, at around 5.45am today, a man entered the One Stop on Marlow Bottom Road, Marlow.

He was this time armed with a small handgun and demanded money.

The offender was unable to access any cash from the store and so made off.

The most recent incident was at 6.40am where a man entered the Co-Operative on Wokingham Road, Earley, armed with a small handgun.

He made off with cash from the store.

No one was injured in any of the attacks.

On each occasion the robber is described as a black man, of chubby/large build, around 30 to 40-years-old, around 6ft tall, with a face covering and wearing blue jeans, dark coloured hat and dark clothing.

Senior investigating officer, detective inspector Mark Carolan of Force CID based at Newbury, said: “We are carrying out a thorough investigation into these incidents that at this stage believe to be linked.

“These incidents were very traumatic for those involved, in order to assist us in our investigation we would ask anyone with any information to come forward and contact us.

“If anyone has a dashcam and was driving past any of these locations around the time of these incidents then we would ask you to check the footage and come forward.

“If anyone has any information we would ask them to call 101 quoting reference 1688 of 17/02/18.

“As a result of these incidents members of the public may see an increased police presence whilst we continue to investigate.”

If you have any information relating to this case, please call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.