Bandit locks takeaway worker in cold room

A woman has managed to free herself after a robber locked her in a cold room during a hold up at a Mackay takeaway shop.

The bandit, who had a knife, forced the woman to hand over cash before locking her in the cold room and fleeing just after 4am (AEST) on Friday.

But the woman managed to get out and called police. She wasn't physically harmed and the bandit remains on the run.