Balaclava raiders rob Blackburn bookies (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Balaclava raiders rob Blackburn bookies

7:20pm Wednesday 24th September 2008 in

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TWO female staff at a bookmakers have been given compassionate leave after balaclava-clad robbers threatened them with weapons.

The raiders struck at the William Hill branch in Audley Range, Blackburn, on Tuesday night.

Staff were threatened and handed over hundreds of pounds in cash.

Community leaders in the Audley area said the incident was “extremely worrying” because it happened in a mainly residential area.

The two staff members, local women aged 18 and 36, were yesterday recovering from the ordeal at home.

They will be spoken to by police in a bid to build up a full understanding of the incident.

One member of staff who opened up the bookies yester-day morning said the incident had been a “huge shock”.

He said: “It must have been a fright-ening ordeal.

“The women have been told to take some time off.”

Detective Sergeant Adrian McHugh, from Blackburn CID, said: “Fortunately the two female staff were not injured but clearly this was frightening for them both.

“We are speaking to witnesses and making inquiries in the area and I urge anyone who saw anything suspicious or who has any information to contact police.”

Local councillor Yusuf Jan Virmani said: “I own a business that is not far from where this happened and it is a great concern that an armed robbery has taken place.

“The area where this happened is mostly residential and it is a worry that people are in the street with weapons. The police do a great job in this area and I hope the robb-ers are caught quickly.”

Police said the robbers made off on foot towards Chester Street after the raid at 9.10pm.

The men are described as being white, aged in their 20s and slim. One was approximately 5ft 10ins and the other was approx-imately 5ft 7ins.

Both had local accents.

Anyone with information can call police on 0845 1 25 35 45 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.