70-year-old shot in arm

31 December 2010, 16:23 | Updated: 31 December 2010, 16:32

A 70-year-old man's been shot in the arm during a robbery at a newsagents in Watford.

It happened at Kays Newsagents on St Albans Road between 7.05 and 7.10am yesterday (Thursday) morning.

The victim was working in the store when a man came in and threatened him and a female member of staff. The gunman ordered the pair to open the till and then shot the man.

Nothing was stolen from the shop and it's not known which direction the robber left in.

The injured man has been taken to hospital, where he remains in a serious condition.

The robber is described as a white man, aged around 16 or 17 years old, wearing a woollen navy blue hat with a white scarf across his nose.

Detailed forensic examinations have been undertaken at the scene and police and Police Community Support Officers have been in the area to talk to potential witnesses.

Detective Inspector Mick Trotman from the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit is investigating and said:

“We would like to hear from anyone who was in the St Albans Road area of Watford yesterday at around the time of the offence or shortly beforehand and who remembers seeing anything that might assist us with this investigation. Offences with firearms are thankfully extremely rare in Hertfordshire which makes this incident all the more shocking. I’d urge any witnesses or anyone with information to contact us.”

If you've got any information you can contact the police on 0845 33 00 222 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.