MASKED raiders terrorised two female petrol station workers before fleeing with cash.

One worker was forced to open the till as one of them jumped over the counter of the Co-operative store, known locally as the Texaco garage, in Nottingham Road, Alfreton.

His accomplice dragged the other woman out of a store room and marched her into the office, ordering her to open the safe.

The pair were then ordered to stand beside the toilet door. One pressed the alarm while the ordeal was taking place, but the robbers fled less than five minutes after the start of the raid, at 8.55pm on Monday.

The raiders put the stolen cash into a rucksack and one of the store's carrier bags

Police do not know if there was a getaway car nearby. They are appealing for witnesses.

Detective Constable Danny Ball said: "The women were left petrified.

"One suffered bruising when she was dragged out of a store room and banged her shin."

Both men are black. One is 5ft 10ins and aged between 25 and 30.

He wore a black balaclava, a pale blue jacket in a thin waterproof material. and white trainers.

He has a lump on his nose which gives the impression it had once been broken. He spoke with a Derbyshire accent.

The second man is aged about 30, muscular and about 6ft 1ins.

He had a black scarf covering his face up to the eyes. His head was covered with the hood of a black jumper.

He also wore multi-coloured trainers which were mostly blue. Both were wearing black gloves.

The second man had a local accent, described by one of the women as "chavvy, as if he was trying to sound like a gangster".

Calls to Alfreton CID can be made on 0345 123 3333. Free telephone calls can be made to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.