Crimestoppers and the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) are offering a reward of up to £5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for an aggravated robbery at a service station in Hampshire.

The incident took place at around 4.35am on February 17 at the Esso forecourt store at Stoney Cross on the westbound carriageway of the A31.

One staff member was assaulted with a crowbar and was treated with a head injury at Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Three individuals are understood to have forced their way through the back door of the forecourt, where the two employees were threatened before one was attacked. Cash is also believed to have been taken from the premises.

Crimestoppers’ head of operations Dave Hunter said: “Nobody going into their place of work should feel unsafe, so it’s terrible to hear of these two employees finding themselves in such a vulnerable position.

”Both employees have been left badly shaken by their ordeal and one of them has ended up in hospital, this is not right. I would ask anyone with information from that morning, to do the right thing – speak up and help keep your community safe. Contact our charity anonymously and tell us what you know. We won’t judge. Won’t ask any personal details. We’ll just pass on what you know.”

ACS chief executive James Lowman added: “It’s unacceptable when people are attacked in this way, and we have to do all we can to bring to justice those who committed this violence. We hope this reward will help the police to get the information they need.”

Anyone with information on the robbery should contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their official website.