UPDATE: Armed robbery at Sheffield bookies

The man entered William Hill, Manor Top, at around 8pm last night and told a woman working alone that he had a gun.

The terrified woman managed to lock herself in a safe area behind the counter and raised the alarm.

The robber escaped with a few pounds from a change tray he grabbed from the counter.

A police probe into the incident is underway.

A William Hill spokesman said: "I can confirm that there was an incident at one of our shops just after 8pm last night.

"A man entered the shop and attempted to rob it.

"The William Hill employee retreated to a safe haven - a security measure that is present in every one of our 2,300 plus shops - while the robber removed a change holder.

"The shop is trading as normal today.

"It is worth noting that the Association of British Bookmakers offers a reward of up to £10,000 for information that leads to a conviction and anyone with information should contact crimestoppers directly.

“William Hill only uses lone working where there has been a robust risk assessment and staff are fully trained on safe procedures and practices. In addition to measures that ensure staff are in regular contact with other shops we have invested in a number of additional security features to maximise safety including high quality networked CCTV in every branch, two-way communication systems, safe havens, security screens and magnetic locks that enable staff to control doors from behind the counter.”

Anyone with information should call South Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.