A man threatened staff at a Colchester bookmakers with a knife during a robbery yesterday.

Detectives are appealing for information following the armed robbery, which took place at Coral on North Station Road in the town just before 12.10pm.

Staff members were threatened at knife-point by the man, who forced them to open the till and the safe before leaving with a three-figure sum of cash in a carrier bag.

No-one was injured during the incident.

A police helicopter was dispatched but officers were unable to trace the man or recover the money.

The man is described as being white, just over 6ft tall and wore a navy hooded jumper with a zip down the middle.

His face was covered with a black scarf and he wore dark-coloured jogging bottoms. He left the scene on foot towards Causton Road.

Police are also keen to speak to the rider of a dark-coloured quad bike seen driving from Catchpool Road to Cowdray Avenue and then onto Serpentine Walk shortly after the incident.

Darius Laws, Colchester borough councillor for Castle ward, called for better CCTV coverage in the town.

He said: “I live just off North Station Road so it isn’t a nice thing to hear about in your own backyard.

“I believe plans are underway to improve the CCTV coverage from the train station right to the bottom of North Hill and that’s what needs to happen.

“There are also plans to enhance the outdated CCTV on the Albert roundabout.

“Improving the CCTV coverage in Colchester is in everyone’s interests.”

Enquiries are ongoing but anyone in the area with available CCTV, dash cam footage, or who may have seen something suspicious in the area at this time, is asked to call Colchester CID on 101, quoting crime reference 42/11197/19.

People can also report information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.