A man was hurt during an armed robbery of a Dunfermline store on Wednesday.
The drama occurred at the Scotmid Cooperative in the town’s East Baldridge Drive at around 3pm.
The man was outside the shop at the time and was treated for minor injuries by paramedics at the scene.
Staff were unhurt but were said to be shaken by their ordeal.
It is unclear what type of weapon was involved but it was understood not to be a firearm.
Several police vehicles and detectives rushed to the scene and the shop and its car park were cordoned off while an investigation was launched.
One neighbour told how he saw a man lying on the pavement across the road.
Jim Thomson said: “He was lying on the pavement then he got up again and all the police cars descended.”
Colin Campbell said: “We saw the all police cars. There were two cars and a police van and an ambulance.”
His mother Gladys said: “We knew it was something serious because there have been things happened there before and it has never been cordoned off.”
An off-duty staff member read about the incident on Facebook and came to make sure her colleagues were safe.
She said: “My first thought was ‘is everyone okay?’. They are my friends. Everyone was okay but they were shaken up, obviously.”
Police tape was removed from the scene shortly before 6pm but the shutters went down and the branch remained closed.
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “Police are investigating a robbery which occurred at the Scotmid store on East Baldridge Drive in Dunfermline around 3pm this afternoon.
“Inquiries are in the early stages, however officers are following various lines of enquiry.
“Reassurance patrols are also being carried out.”
An appeal was issued to anyone in the area at the time who may be able to help the inquiry to contact Dunfermline CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A spokesman for Scotmid Cooperative said: “We can confirm there was a situation at our store.
“The store is closed at the moment while police are investigating what has happened.
“We are co-operating with the police and will take advice on when we can re-open the store.”
There was an attempted robbery at the same branch in October 2010.
During the same week, two robbers threatened staff at Ladbrokes’ Baldridgeburn branch with a hammer and table leg before making off with £2000.
