Masked men threatened staff with a gun in one of two armed robberies at Wolverhampton supermarkets.

Five staff at Morrisons, Blaydon Road, Pendeford, were rounded up at gunpoint as three raiders – all in balaclavas – stole cigarettes.

The 3.25am robbery today followed a similar raid at Somerfield, Warstones Road, Penn, last night. Staff were threatened with axes by three men who emptied cigarette kiosk contents into wheelie bins before making off in a blue car at 9.30pm.

Nobody was hurt in the attacks but staff were shaken. On Monday thousands of pounds were taken at the Co-op, Tettenhall Road, Newbridge, after staff were threatened. On December 13 raiders in balaclavas took cigarettes at the Co-op Albion Parade, Wall Heath.