MASKED thugs raided a Huddersfield betting shop during one of the most lucrative gambling weeks of the year.

The three men smashed into Coral bookmakers on Leeds Road in Bradley at about 9.30pm on Thursday.

They confronted the two female staff who were in the shop at the time and who had been cashing up for the day.

The gang, who were all wearing dark clothing and had their faces covered, threatened them and fled with a large amount of cash and two handbags.

Their raid happened during the Cheltenham racing festival, during which bookmakers up and down the country take millions of pounds.

Det Insp Phil Benson of Huddersfield CID said it was not the first time the Leeds Road shop had been targeted.

He added: “This isn’t the first offence that these premises have suffered and we are looking into the past incidents along with this one.

“At this time we have no concrete evidence to connect them, although the staff are clearly feeling vulnerable.

“We have a team of detectives working on it and trying to track down the offenders and we would appeal to the public to come forward with any help they may be able to give us.”

Anyone with information should call Huddersfield CID on 01484 436664 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.