A woman was left distressed after the newsagent she was working in was robbed by a man with a knife and then a pensioner collapsed in the shop and later died.

At around 3.40pm yesterday (Friday, January 12), a 63-year-old woman was working within Wylie’s Newsagents on Springvale Street, Saltcoats, when a man entered the shop. He threatened her with a knife and demanded money.

The man then ran out of the shop with a small amount of cash leaving the shop assistant uninjured but very distressed.

The suspect is described as white, 5ft 8, medium build and was wearing a blue rain jacket with the hood up, blue jeans and had a black scarf covering his face.

A very short time following the robbery a 71-year-old man went into the shop after hearing about the robbery where he became unwell and collapsed. He was taken to Crosshouse Hospital but died a short time later.

A post mortem examination will take place in due course to establish the exact cause of death and a report will be submitted to the PF.

An enquiry is underway to establish the full circumstances of both incidents.

Detective Inspector Fraser Normansell at Saltcoats CID said: “This was a very traumatic experience for the 63-year-old shop assistant who not only suffered the ordeal of the robbery itself but also witness the elderly man collapsing in the aftermath of the incident.

“It is vital that we trace the culprit and stop him from causing any further harm and distress and as such I urge anyone was in the vicinity of Springdale Street in Saltcoats around 3.40pm on Friday 12 January 2018 and may have seen the suspect hanging around the area to contact police at Saltcoats immediately via telephone number 101 quoting incident number 2056 of 12 January 2018.”

"I also appeal to any drivers who were in the area to check their dash cams as they may have captured the suspect on their camera. If so, I ask that they also contact police urgently."

Alternatively calls can be made to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be maintained.