By Dave GooderhamPOLICE are hunting an armed gang who threatened staff at a betting shop before fleeing with cash from its safe.The robbers then drove the wrong way down a one-way street following their raid on Coral bookmakers in North Street, Sudbury, on Thursday evening.

By Dave Gooderham

POLICE are hunting an armed gang who threatened staff at a betting shop before fleeing with cash from its safe.

The robbers then drove the wrong way down a one-way street following their raid on Coral bookmakers in North Street, Sudbury, on Thursday evening.

David Stevens, Coral spokesman, said: “It was a shocking incident for all concerned. Staff were left shaken, but fortunately no-one was physically hurt.

“We are confident about our security, but you can't take measures against people who set out to commit such crimes.

“In times like this, the safety of our staff is paramount and we always tell them to comply with any request made rather than attempt to tackle the offenders.” Two masked men, one brandishing a hammer, burst into the bookmakers shortly before 5.30pm on Thursday and ordered staff to open the safe before escaping with cash.

It is believed a vehicle was waiting for the robbers in Gainsborough Road and it then headed the wrong way around a one-way system towards Halstead.

The raid came just two days after armed robbers struck at an off-licence in Bury St Edmunds, subjecting staff to a terrifying ordeal.

Police believe the two balaclava-clad men who burst into Unwins Wine Merchants in Eastgate Street on Tuesday night might have been staking out the premises for weeks.

Two members of staff, a man aged in his 50s and a woman in her 40s, were threatened before the robbers fled with cash and cigarettes.

Anyone with information about either robbery should contact Suffolk police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

dave.gooderham@eadt.co.uk