POLICE are hunting a robber who threatened a cashier with a handgun at a Bournemouth bookmakers.

A CCTV image of a man they would like to speak to has been released following the incident, which happened in Ladbrokes along Commercial Road in the Triangle at around 8.20pm on Tuesday evening.

Detectives say they are keeping an open mind as to whether the incident is connected with a robbery of a G4S security officer outside Tesco Express in Shillingstone Drive, Muscliffe, at 10.40am the same day. No weapon was used. Detectives investigating say the hooded offender, who had his face partially covered, pointed the weapon at the female cashier and demanded money.

He made off from the scene with an undisclosed quantity of cash, heading along Mannington Place and up into West Hill Car Park.

DC Steve May, of Bournemouth CID, said: “This was a highly distressing incident. The area was reasonably busy at the time of this robbery and it may be that a number of people saw this man arriving or departing the scene.”

The offender is described as white, around 5ft 6ins tall, with dark greasy hair. He was wearing a navy Henry Lloyd top, with the digits 63 on the front, and blue tracksuit bottoms with a white stripe down the side. He had a patterned scarf over his face.

Richard Royal, head of public affairs at Ladbrokes, said: “A lone, hooded, partly-disguised male in a dark Henri Lloyd jacket with the number ‘63’ on walked up to the counter and demanded cash in a way that did not alert the other customers present. He left with a small amount of cash in a white plastic bag.

“There were no injuries or damage to the shop. We have excellent CCTV images and are working with the police to investigate and apprehend the suspect.” Simon Han, of nearby Tara’s Restaurant and Cafe Bar, said he was appalled by the incident.

“This is shocking,” he said.

He added he had seen change in the Triangle in recent years.

“We get a lot more strangers hanging around here and a lot of people who have been drinking,” he said.

“My window was smashed recently.”

Witnesses and anyone with information should call officers in confidence on 101, quoting incident number 31:443, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.