A gun-toting bandit has this afternoon terrorised a dairy worker in a brazen daylight robbery.
Shortly after 2pm, a man walked into the Durie St Dairy, on Portal St in Durie Hill, Whanganui, "brandishing a pistol", police say.
He was wearing a long-sleeve black top and black pants, was carrying a bag and hid his face under a multi-coloured motorcycle helmet. The bandit made off with "an amount of goods from the store" and was last seen heading towards a nearby school.
The dairy worker, meanwhile, was not physically hurt but is said to be extremely distressed and requiring family support.
Police are investigating the robbery and have appealed for witnesses to anyone hanging around, entering or running away from the dairy.
They are also keen to hear from anyone that can identify the man.
"This aggressive male has gone into your local store and terrorised your local shop person. Police need your help to solve the crime," a police statement says.
Anyone with information can call Detective Aaron Bunker at the Whanganui Police Station 06 349 0600 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.