TERRIFIED workers fled from behind the counter of a betting shop and called police when they were threatened with a gun.

The robbery took place at Betfred in Halliwell Road on Saturday night.

The thief, whose face was covered, walked into the shop armed with a handgun at about 9.30pm.

A female employee fled into the back and called the police, but he fled empty-handed before the police arrived.

Detectives are now appealing for anyone with information to contact them.

The female staff member was back at work at the bookmakers yesterday, but said she was too shaken to speak about her ordeal.

The robbery comes just two months after two men armed with a sledgehammer and a knife raided the betting shop.

They managed to smash their way through a door to get to the counter area and got away with some cash from the till.

A spokesman for the company said: “We take the security of our staff and customers extremely seriously and we are co-operating with the police on this matter.”

A worker at nearby Love2eat sandwich shop said: “People must be desperate for money to do something like that.

“It must be really scary for the staff who work there. It is brave of them to keep going.

“That one seems to be targeted more often than others.”

A nearby resident added: “It is terrible round here — there always seems to be something going on.

“I make sure I keep my door locked all the time.”

The raider is described as a white man, 5ft 3in tall, wearing a black jacket and dark cap, who had his face covered.

Anyone with information can call police on 0161 8565761 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.