A MASKED robber armed with a bat threatened staff at a McDonald’s in Benson before making off with cash from the safe.

The thief forced all the staff into an office and demanded cash before he fled the scene.

The robbery happened at the Oxford Road restaurant at about 12.30am on Tuesday.

Police described the robber as 6ft tall and said he was wearing dark coloured clothing and had his face covered.

Pc Jon Morley last night urged any witnesses to call him via the 101 number.

He said: “I am keen to speak to anyone who may have been travelling through this area and seen something, or anyone that has any information about this incident.”

In a separate incident, staff at a branch of Santander bank in Broadway, Didcot, were threatened with a knife at about 10.35am on Monday.

Lewis Bates, 21 of Tavistock Avenue, appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday in connection with the incident. He is charged with attempted robbery and possession of a blade and will appear at Oxford Crown Court on April 11.

Police say the two incidents are not linked.