A petrol worker has been left shaken after an early morning attack on a County Durham garage.
The incident happened at the Esso Petrol Garage on the Coast Road, near Blackhall Colliery on Monday morning.
The culprits smashed the shop window during the attack that happened at around 3.30am, leaving a member of staff shaken.
A Blackhall resident, who wanted to remain nameless, arrived on the scene moments after the incident.
He said: “The shop assistant was outside, shaking, trembling and terrified. He said it was a huge sledgehammer that they used. I felt really, really sorry for him.
“The police arrived and asked him to keep the CCTV of the incident.
“It would be a shame for the community to lose the 24 hour garage because of behaviour like this.”
Manager David Wood said: “All we know is that the window has been hit by a couple of people.
“We have contacted the police. The member of staff is a bit shaken. I think they were more trying to damage the glass to be honest and it is cracked.”
A Durham Constabulary spokeswoman said they are now investigating the incident.
She said: “Officers were called to reports of an incident at the Esso petrol garage in Coast Road, Blackhall, just after 3.30am this morning.
“The garage shop window has been smashed, leaving the staff member shaken.
“If you have any information or CCTV that could help identify the culprits, call 101 quoting crime reference number 34 of July 27.”
