POLICE are today hunting three armed robbers who made off with cash after a raid at a bookmakers.

The incident is the latest in a spate of robberies at bookmakers in the region to have taken place in recent weeks.

Three men entered the branch of Coral in Hawthorn Drive, Ipswich, shortly before 9pm last night brandishing a baseball bat and a knife.

The trio, whose faces and hands were covered, threatened two female members of staff. One of the women was pushed against a wall.

Although uninjured, both women were left extremely shaken by their ordeal. Two male customers were also in the shop at the time and were also uninjured.

The three men demanded money from the till before leaving on foot with a relatively small amount of cash.

The offenders have been described as about 6ft and of slim build. They were all wearing dark coloured clothing.

A police spokesman said the investigation was in its early stages.

Scenes of crime officers have examined the scene, statements are being obtained, house-to-house enquiries will be conducted, and CCTV will be trawled.

Detective Sergeant Darren Bruce, who is overseeing the investigation into the robbery, said: “This was an extremely distressing incident for the two women and I urge anyone who was in the area of Hawthorn Drive around 9pm last night to come forward if they think they may have seen anything that may help our enquiries into this incident.

“We would also like to hear from you if you have any information about who the three involved are.”

The incident comes barely weeks after two men – one carrying a shotgun – threatened staff at Ladbrokes betting shop in Felixstowe and escaped with a quantity of cash.

In mid-September staff at the same store were faced with a man brandishing a knife and were forced to hand over takings.

Meanwhile, Aron Harrison, 18, of Grange Road, Felixstowe, was jailed for two years after walking into the Premier Express Underwood’s grocery store in Beach Station Road, Felixstowe, and robbed it at knifepoint.

Greening’s newsagents in Faulkeners Way, Trimley St Mary, has also been targeted.

And police are continuing to investigate three robberies in a year at the Capel St Mary Post Office.

n Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Suffolk Police on 01473 613500 or Crime Stoppers on 0800 555111.