BOSSES at a betting shop have stepped up security after staff and customers were threatened by armed robbers.

Two men and a woman who work at the Tote Bookmakers in the Longfield Precinct, Prestwich, were forced to the ground after three men, one wielding a kitchen knife, burst into the shop at 4.30pm last Friday (Jan 31).

A handful of customers were in the bookies when the robbers barged in but were powerless to help.

Police said the armed trio then ran out of the bookies with a small quantity of cash and escaped in a black Ford Escort driven away at speed by a fourth man. The car had been stolen from Manchester city centre two days before and was found abandoned less than an hour after the robbery in Drinkwater Road, Rainsough.

Mrs Susan Haigh, district manager for Tote, said the staff caught up in the robbery had been given time off to recover from their ordeal.

She said: "The robbery happened very quickly and only a small amount of cash was stolen.

"Fortunately, no-one was injured but the staff were very shaken as a result. CCTV tapes of the raid have been passed on to the police and we have made further improvements to our security procedures."

Police are now trying to trace a number of customers who were in the bookies during the robbery.

Detective Constable Tony Hough from Whitefield CID said: "This attack happened extremely quickly and I am appealing for anyone who saw anything or may have further information to contact us.

"There are at least ten people who are potential witnesses and I have so far spoken to a few of them. I would still like to speak to others who have not yet come forward. Any information, now matter how trivial, could be of great help."

He continued: "All four men involved were aged between 18 and 20 and the man holding the knife had light brown hair which was unusually shaped into a 'V' on his forehead."

Witnesses with information should contact Whitefield CID on 0161 856 8248 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.