A MAN armed with a gun raided a bookmakers in Burnley, before fleeing with cash.

Two members of staff at the William Hill shop, in Padiham Road, were threatened with the concealed weapon just before closing time.

The robber escaped with a few hundred pounds in the robbery, and is now being hunted by police.

Gerard Davies, head of retail security for William Hill, said: “A man entered the shop at and staff believed that he was armed with a gun.

“He had a hood up, with a scarf around his face and he was wearing gloves. A minimal amount of cash was taken.

“There were two members of staff in the shop at the time and they were unhurt, but were shaken.

“We are now liasing with the police and have handed over CCTV footage to them.”

The incident happened at around 8pm on Thursday.

Police were carrying out door-to-door inquiries in the area yesterday, while forensic examinations of the area took place the previous evening.

Detective Sergeant Belinda Cooper, from Pennine CID, said: “An investigation is underway but we are keen to speak to two customers who were in the shop.

“One man was playing the bandit and left just prior to the incident the other entered the premises just after the incident.

“Fortunately nobody was injured but the staff members were left very shaken.”

Mr Davies said staff in the shop at the time would be offered support.

“As is always the case we will be offering full support to staff and they will be offered counselling,” he said.

“We have a specific training course and plan to help staff deal with incidents like this.

“The staff will now be given welfare packs and will go through a full security debrief.”

Residents living near to the shop said that they had not heard anything happening until the police arrived.

One man said: “We were in at the time but didn’t know anything had gone on until we heard the police arrive. We have been visited by the police this morning and it sounds like a frightening incident.”

The robber is described as a white, 6ft tall, heavy build with blue eyes, blotchy skin and spoke with a local accent.

He was wearing a black hooded jacket with the hood worn up, a black scarf around his face and black tracksuit bottoms.

Anyone with information should contact DS Belinda Cooper, DC John Dodrill or DC Jane Gregson at Burnley CID on 01282 472124 or on 101.

People with information can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.