A police helicopter was scrambled on Sunday after a man armed with a knife fled with several hundred pounds cash after robbing a petrol station in Scorrier, near Redruth, in Cornwall.

The man entered Scorrier Filling Station at around 1pm and threatened a member of staff with a knife, before leaving with the cash.

The incident occurred half an hour after an attempted robbery at the Post Office and store on Holywell Road in Newquay. A man threated staff with a knife, but left with no money and nobody was injured.

In each case the man was described as being in his late teens or early 20s, and wearing jeans and a dark jacket.

Police are investigating whether the two incidents are connected.

Anyone with any information is asked to call 101 quoting CR/009125/15.