POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a series of armed robberies where raiders have threatened staff with tools.

The first attempted robbery took place at the Murco petrol station on the A40 London Road in Postcombe at about 8pm on Tuesday, January 26.

Police said a white man wearing a balaclava and dark clothing with a jacket and gloves tried to rob the service station.

But the 5ft 6ins raider, who had a medium build, was unsuccessful because the till was empty and the cigarettes had been put away for the night.

During the second robbery a man entered the England's Rose pub - in the same street in Postcombe - at 8.40pm on Sunday, February 7, wearing a blue face mask and brandishing a large spanner.

The force said he threatened staff with the spanner and demanded they open the till before he fled with the cash, but no one was hurt.

The raider was described as white, 5ft 10ins or 11ins tall, with a slim build and was wearing a gardening hat with a floppy brim, light-grey hooded top, white jeans and white shoes shoes with white soles.  He also had a tattoo between his thumb and finger.

The next day two men burst into a newsagent in Brasenose Road, Didcot, at 4.20pm and threatened the staff member with a screwdriver, the force said.

The pair, both described as white men, stole cash and cigarettes and pulled the member of staff's arm, before fleeing in a stolen Ford Transit Connect van.

One of the men was wearing a red and white striped scarf over his face, a grey hooded top, and a reflective waistcoat jacket.

The second man was slim, wearing a black hooded jacket and dark trousers.

The van - which had the partial licence plate PV55 was found abandoned later that day.

Police believe the robberies as linked and Detective Sergeant Anthony Maddison said anyone who saw anything suspicious or the van speeding around the Sutton Courtenay area should call him.

He added: "We are particularly keen to speak to anyone who might have information in relation to the armed robberies at the pub and the newsagents.

"We would also like anyone who may have seen a Ford Transit Connect being driven at speed in around the Sutton Courtenay area of Abingdon, or the same vehicle being driven prior to the incident at the newsagents in the early hours of Monday morning to come forward."

Police said they have arrested and quizzed the four men - three from Didcot and one of no fixed abode - in connection with the robberies.

The four men, aged 30, 30, 31, and 27, have been released on bail to report back to police in March.

Witnesses should call the police on 101 quoting URN 729 16/02/2016