A BALACLAVA-clad raider brandishing a baseball bat robbed a betting shop in Bournemouth yesterday evening.

Staff at Ladbrokes in Portman Terrace, off Sea-bourne Road, Southbourne, faced a terrifying ordeal after the raider smashed the glass door with the bat after demanding money.

It is the second robbery by a man wielding a bat in just three days after the Best-in store in Palmerston Road, Boscombe, was targeted at 4.10pm on Monday.

Police are investigating both incidents, and have not yet commented on the possibility that the incidents are linked.

Eye-witness Mary Spence, who was visiting a friend at the bookies, called police after screaming at staff to get out.

She said: “I saw somebody hanging around outside.

“He was wearing a balaclava. I didn’t think much about it because it’s so cold.”

She said the man then walked into Ladbrokes “swinging a baseball bat”.

“My friend was stuck in the shop,” she said.

“I was just so frightened for him. I was screaming at him to get away.”

The helicopter was called to search for the raider, although no arrests had been made in connection with the incident.

A second witness, who did not want to be named, said they had seen a woman and male staff member trying to hold the doors of the shop shut from the outside while the masked man tried to escape.

He then smashed the doors with the bat before making off in the direction of Fisherman’s Walk.

It is believed that money taken during the incident has been recovered.

PC Christian Bryant, of Bournemouth CID, said any witnesses are urged to contact Dorset Police on 101 quoting incident number 337 of December 3.