PCs Joanne Mansell and Steven Winstanley chased after a white van that had been used as a getaway vehicle, the court heard.

But they had to reverse quickly as the van came to a stop and a hatchet-wielding man leapt out and ran towards them.

PC Mansell told the jury: 'We turned round and put our siren on.

'There were three or four cars in front of us. They moved out of the way and we followed the van for roughly 10 seconds when it stopped.

'As we stopped, the passenger door opened and a man came out of the door and ran towards our vehicle brandishing a weapon.

'He was wearing a hoodie jumper which he pulled up over his face as he got out. All I could see were his eyes.

'I thought it might be a firearm, but as he got closer I could see it was a hatchet, about 12in long.'

The armed robber – part of a gang which had earlier made off with £65,000 from the Co-op in Gregson Avenue, Bridgemary, Gosport – continued to run at them even though the police car was reversing away, Portsmouth Crown Court heard.

PC Winstanley told the jury: 'As he ran towards us I could see he was holding a hatchet with a bright red handle.

'He was waving it above his head and I believed he intended to use it.'

PC Winstanley said that as the van sped off along Gosport Road, in the direction of Stubbington, he decided not to continue the chase.

This was because the roads were busy in the morning rush hour and children were making their way to nearby Baycroft School.

James Blair and Karl Sidwell, both from Coventry, deny robbery and aggravated vehicle taking.

Sidwell also denies a further charge of going equipped for theft.

A third man, David Ball, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing while a fourth man is still on the run.

(Proceeding)