POLICE have vowed the fight against knife crime in a Suffolk market town continues after a blade was used to threaten staff at a restaurant for the second time.

The message comes after a man attempted to force open the drive-thru window at the KFC restaurant in Sudbury and then showed staff a knife under his coat on Friday night<05.03>.

In the latest incident where a knife has been used in the town, between 8.10pm and 8.15pm, nothing was taken after staff refused to open the window and the offender ran off.

But it follows an incident, not being linked, on September 10 where a man with a large knife jumped through the drive-thru window at the same Shawlands Retail Park premises before threatening staff and leaving with a “substantial sum” of cash.

The second incident involving a knife at the restaurant comes just a few weeks after a 14-day knife amnesty and campaign to prevent people carrying potential weapons in Sudbury.

The fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Lewis Watson in September, as well as the first KFC raid and an armed robbery at WH Smith in North Street, prompted the action.

Last night<08.03> Inspector Paul Crick, in charge of policing in Sudbury, said the new incident only served to strengthen their resolve to clamp down on knife offenders in the town.

“The thing to stress is nobody was hurt,” he said. “The campaign against knife crime must continue. Knife crime is not going to stop overnight but we will never slacken our response.

“It just reinforces our determination in our fight against knife crime locally.”

Police are now appealing for witnesses to the latest incident to hit the town.

The male offender is described as white, in his late 20s, 6ft tall, of large build and was wearing white trainers, a light coloured jacket, a light coloured t-shirt and dark jeans. Anyone with information is asked to call DC Katrina Sedgwick at Stowmarket CID on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.