A man has been charged with robbery following a raid on a supermarket.

Sam Aitken, of no fixed address, appeared at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Friday after the Thornton’s Budgens in Belsize Park was targeted at about 1.45pm the day before.

The Haverstock Hill store was sealed off within an hour as Flying Squad detectives investigated.

Store owner Andrew Thornton told the Ham&High: “Everybody is OK, but a bit shaken. But nobody got hurt – that’s the main thing.”

Paying tribute to the staff in the store at the time of the alleged robbery, Mr Thornton added: “They were fantastic.

“They are absolutely brilliant.”

Aitken was also charged with possession of a firearm.

The 39-year-old is due to appear at Blackfriars Crown Court on April 6.