Knifeman in balaclava steals cash from Cleveleys bookies

Police say the robber walked up to the counter inside Coral, in Victoria Road West, at around 8pm yesterday, before ordering the ‘extremely shaken’ staff to empty cash from the till into a carrier bag.

He fled with an undisclosed amount of money and is now being hunted by officers.

Det Sgt Neil Smith, from Blackpool Police, said: “The member of staff working in the shop was simply trying to earn an honest living when they were put through this ordeal, which has left them extremely shaken.

“We are determined to find the person responsible and would urge anybody with any information about it to contact us.

“Maybe you were in the area at the time and saw something that didn’t seem quite right, or maybe you’ve since heard someone talking about it.

“If you know anything, please get in touch.”

The man was described as white, around 5ft 9ins tall, and was wearing a blue hooded top, light-coloured trousers, trainers, and the balaclava.

On Monday, November 29, two men were arrested after a robbery at Coral in Red Bank Road, Bispham.

And last Thursday, a robber ordered Subway worker Hayley Ellis, 22, not to scream as he stole money from a till in Waterloo Road.