Detectives are appealing for witnesses after three men burst into a bookies in Ewell and threatened to shoot a woman.

The men, who claimed to be armed, raided the Coral bookies on the High Street around 10.15am on Thursday.

They demanded cash from a 20-year-old female member of staff before jumping over the front counter and emptying the tills.

The cashier was then forced to unlock the cash drawers of four games machines.

The three men left with an undisclosed sum of money and escaped in a waiting red Mazda car.

Coral spokesman Simon Clare said the robbery was a terrifying ordeal for the cashier.

Officers described the first man as black, around 5ft 6ins to 5ft 7ins, and of slim build. He was wearing a black jacket with the hood up and his face was masked by blue material.

His two accomplices, also black men, were wearing a black jackets with the hoods up covering their faces.

Investigations are continuing and detectives are currently reviewing CCTV footage of the incident.

Detective Constable Trudie Harrison, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a nasty incident which has traumatised the 20-year-old victim. She was alone in the betting shop at the time of the robbery and was subjected to a terrifying ordeal.

"Fortunately she was not injured but it is clear we need to identify and arrest these men in order to prevent them from committing further offences."

Officers say that at this stage officers are not linking this incident to an armed robbery at Corals Bookmakers in Chessington Road, Ewell, on March 23.

Anyone with information is urged to contact detectives at Epsom CID on 0845 125 2222 quoting reference EP/08/143 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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