TWO raiders brandishing a handgun threatened up to 15 staff and customers during a raid on a Kearsley bookmakers.

The thugs threatened to shoot anyone who got in their way after they burst into the premises of Premier Racing.

The customers were ordered to one side of the room before the thieves rifled through the tills. They escaped with the day's takings thought to run into thousands of pounds.

The robbery is the latest in a spate of attacks on bookmakers throughout the Bolton area over the last few months.

Only last month a thief escaped with a large haul of money after hiding in a toilet at a Bolton town centre bookies. The thief then climbed over a suspended ceiling and dropped into a cashier's office as staff were counting the day's takings.

The latest robbery happened at 5pm on Saturday when two masked thugs stormed into Premier Racing's offices in Manchester Road, Kearsley, shortly before staff were due to close for the day.

Ignoring the fact that the office was packed with customers, the gunmen warned that they were prepared to use the firearm if threatened.

They escaped in a stolen Rover car parked outside. The car was driven off at high speed and abandoned minutes later on land off Highfield Street, Kearsley, near the municipal offices.

Masks

Detectives hunting the raiders want to speak to anyone who may have seen the men outside the bookmaker's before or after the robbery, or anyone who may have seen the getaway car being abandoned by them.

Both men were wearing dark clothing and masks or scarves pulled over their faces.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bolton CID or Crimestoppers on the freephone number 0800 555 111.

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