THREE armed masked men walked into a bookmakers in Blackburn and threatened a female worker with bats.

The incident happened at Dave Pluck in Northgate at around 9.30pm last night.

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Having been threatened the woman, who was already behind a secure screen, managed to escape in to a staff room and rang the police.

The men, who were wearing balaclavas and dark clothing, smashed betting machines before leaving empty-handed.

They escaped in a car towards Duke Street. Nobody was injured in the robbery.

Detective Sergeant Simon Upton said: "This must have been a terrifying ordeal for the member of staff who was on her own at the time. Fortunately she was not injured and the offenders left empty-handed. I would appeal for anyone who saw anything suspicious or who has any information to come forward and contact the police."

DS Upton said he was particularly keen to talk to a couple who walked past the getaway car, which was parked on the pedestrianised Northgate at the time of the incident.

A police spokesman said officers are not releasing any details of the car at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.