A masked raider broke into the Sainsbury’s Local in Hoole in the early hours of Sunday.

Police have confirmed an individual forced entry into the Faulkner Street store about 3am before attacking the tills.

Neither Sainsbury’s nor police are willing to disclose what was taken.

An alarm was activated with officers on scene just two minutes after being notified by the alarm company but the offender had already fled.

Sergeant Alex Jackson, of Cheshire Police, said: “We would like to speak to anyone who may have seen something around about 3am on Sunday morning.

“If anybody saw someone acting suspiciously around Sainsbury’s at that time then please give us a call.”

Sgt Jackson confirmed the offender did make off with stolen property but would not comment on what was taken.

He said police were looking for one individual dressed in black and wearing a balaclava who was on foot at the time of the break-in but may have had vehicle waiting nearby.

The store was closed early on Sunday morning for crime scene investigators to carry out a forensic examination.

A review of CCTV footage is under way. It has not been disclosed how the intruder managed to break into the premises but there was no sign of any obvious external damage.

Neither staff at the Sainsbury’s Local or the company’s press office are willing to discuss the break-in.

A spokeswoman said it was ‘a police matter’.