A ROBBER wielding a meat cleaver raided a bookmakers in West Moors last night.

During the incident, which happened at Ladbrokes in Station Road shortly before 8pm, the man leapt over the counter and threatened staff.

The robber is described as being around five feet ten inches tall. He is of stocky build and had blue fabric stretched over his face. He was wearing a black hooded top, dark trousers and red gloves.

Detective Constable Nic Taylor, of Bournemouth CID, said: “This must have been a distressing incident for staff at the bookmakers and I would like to reassure members of the public that a full investigation is under way to identify the offender.

“We have been carrying out a number of enquiries, including house-to-house, a forensic examination of the crime scene and reviewing CCTV footage."

DC Taylor called for any witnesses, or anyone who saw suspicious activity around the bookmakers yesterday evening, to call police on 101 quoting 55190008387.

There will be extra police patrols in West Moors while the robber is being hunted.

The same branch was targeted in 2014. During that incident, a robber threatened a lone female worker with a knife.