A MASKED teenager armed with a knife robbed a Kidlington pet shop in broad daylight on Saturday.

He walked into Alison’s Animals in The Parade at about 11.45am and threatened teenage shop assistants with a knife.

He escaped with cash and fled towards Sainsbury’s in Oxford Road.

Shop owner Paul Cotterell, 57, said: “There were two girls in the shop serving and a young lad came in with a knife and threatened them.

“It’s not something you ever expect to happen in a pet shop.

“They did what they were trained to do, and handed over the money.”

He added: “We do not leave any cash in the premises, and we start each morning with a minimum float. Given most people pay with cards anyway, we hardly had any money in the till.

“But who on earth would want to rob a place like this?”

The assistants were “shaken” by the incident, he said.

The robber is described as white, about 5ft 6ins tall and of medium build. He was wearing a purple hooded top and had a scarf covering his face.

Police are appealing for witnesses. Anyone with information should call DC Mike West on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.