Casino workers were shot at then attacked with a metal bar by a man wielding a BB handgun in an armed robbery attempt in New Malden High Street.

The pair, a 45-year-old man and a 58-year-old woman, were opening Cashino Gaming early on Saturday morning when they were attacked.

But the aggressor, described by Kingston police sergeant Nicki Thomas as wearing a high-visibility jacket or scarf over his face, ran away empty-handed after being challenged by one of the workers.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "He threatened them with a BB hand gun and demanded money.

"The male victim challenged the suspect and [he] fired three pellets. The pellets struck the victim but caused no injury.

"The suspect then attacked the man with a metal bar and then ran off with nothing.

"London Ambulance Service took the man to hospital for minor injuries."

Barbara, worker at New Malden High Street charity shop Cancer Research UK, said: “I just saw the police cars, there were about three. The police came to our shop to ask if we saw anything.

“They just told me there was some attempted robbery.”

The attack took place at about 8.20am on Saturday, January 30. No arrests have been made, police said this morning.