ARMED raiders fled empty-handed after a bookmaker fought them off.

Two men armed with a kitchen knife stormed Corbetts Bookmakers in Chester Street, Saltney, just after noon on Sunday.

They demanded cash but left with nothing after a man working at the shop used a snooker cue to fight them off, in so doing protecting a shaking female staff member.

Police are now scouring CCTV footage of the raid – the second at the bookies this month – and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

One witness, who did not want to be named, described how two hooded men, believed to be teenagers, went into the shop and tried to get over the counter. They were then hit by the man behind the counter before pulling out a knife and trying again.

The man then hit them again before calling police.

The witness said: “They ran out into the street. They had the fright of their lives. The police were quick and were there in a couple of minutes. There were four police cars and a dog van.”

Earlier this month a sum believed to be £5,000 was taken from the bookmakers by two men who stole from the safe.

No arrests have been made in connection with that raid and police say it is too early to say if the two incidents are connected.

Cheshire Constabulary spokeswoman Shelley Williams said: “Officers are conducting extensive investigations.

“Fortunately no-one was injured and the raiders made off empty-handed after staff refused to hand over cash.”

Anyone with any information should contact DC Iestyn Lewis Jones at Chester CID on 0845 458 0000, quoting incident 388, April 24.

No-one from Corbetts wished to comment.