POLICE are considering a link between a spate of robberies after another store was raided on Monday night.

Staff at Choices Video, on Dene Drive, Winsford, were threatened by a lone male robber with an eight inch kitchen knife at 8.10pm before he made off with money from the till. Similar robberies over the Christmas and New Year period have included Victoria Wine and Alldays in Winsford, Bargain Booze, Weaverham and the Wine Cellar in Hartford.

Detective Chief Inspector, Alec Johns, said: "There is a possibility that they could be the same offenders.

"Shopkeepers really do need to be conscious of the fact that a number of off licences and shops have been raided in the area and they should be extra vigilant.

"We want to give them our support and if they have any worries they can contact me at Northwich Police Station."

"This is not something that is just happening in the mid Cheshire area, it is going on nationally, but these incidents have been building up for the last month and a half.

"Our biggest worry is that eventually somebody will get injured."

In the latest incident the robber was seen escaping towards Winsford Civic Hall.

He is described as being a white male, around 5ft 8in tall, and medium build.

He was wearing a dark woolly hat with a dark woollen scarf covering his face and was also wearing a navy blue top.

Detective Sergeant Phil Bowyer is leading an investigation into all the recent robberies.

Police are asking any witnesses who may have seen the offender before or after the robbery to ring DC Jim Plumb or DC Bob Scrannage on 01606 592222.