POLICE have appealed for potentially vital witnesses to come forward after an armed robbery bid at a Huddersfield betting shop.

Two masked men with a handgun raided the Jack Pearson’s office on Blackmoorfoot Road, Crosland Moor, at 11.30am on Wednesday.

But they fled empty-handed.

There was a man playing a gaming machine in the office at the time and police have urged him to come forward.

Detectives also believe people in a white van who had just been to a nearby sandwich shop may have seen what happened and saw the raiders making their getaway.

A 16-year-old youth was arrested in connection with the robbery bid and later released on police bail pending further inquiries.

The raid happened just 30 minutes after two thieves escaped with cash from the Jack Pearson betting shop on Leeds Road, close to Bradley Mills, after threatening the manager with a gun.

Police are looking at possible links between the two raids.

Anyone with information should phone police at Kirklees CID on 01484 436685 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.