A BURNLEY bookies was raided by robbers armed with a metal bar.

Two masked men targeted the William Hill betting shop in Briercliffe Road, near Burnley General Hospital, as the lone female manager was working behind the counter.

One of the men kept a lookout at the main entrance, while the other man entered the shop brandishing the weapon.

He tried to force his way into the store office but failed. He then threatened the woman, demanding money.

She retreated into a back room so the man reached under the security glass and grabbed a coin holder containing £137.

Police were alerted to the scene by the manager. Gerard Davies, head of retail security at William Hill, said: “It showed very quick thinking by the manager in deploying the counter plan training.

“It must have been quite a scary incident. “It would have been very unpleasant to say the least, and she did really well. “We have offered the woman our welfare procedure and counselling, which is our tried and tested support mechanism.”

The man carrying the metal bar was described as Asian, of slim build and wearing a distinctive zip-up hooded top.

Det Sgt Charlie Haynes, of Burnley CID, said: “We are currently looking at CCTV from the incident and enquiries are ongoing.”

Anyone with information about the incident, which happened between 9.20pm and 9.27pm on Saturday, should call police on 101, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.