A nationwide manhunt has been launched to find a suspected armed robber.

Detectives made an appeal on BBC TV's Crimewatch last night for information on the whereabouts of James Sheedy.

Sheedy is wanted for armed robbery after an incident at Steeple Bay Holiday Park, near Maldon.

Two people have been arrested and charged in connection with the incident but the third member of the gang - believed to be Sheedy - has remained at large.

Three people went into the riverside clubhouse at the park on August 31 last year, two had handguns and the third was holding a knife.

Staff at the park were tied up and the robbers stole £35,000 from the safe.

They escaped in a Honda Civic and a motorbike, but both vehicles crashed on country lanes. Police later arrested and charged a man and a woman. A holdall containing the cash along with paperwork was found near to where the car crashed.

James Sheedy escaped and is still being hunted by police. Officers in the case believe Sheedy could be anywhere in Britain and launched the television appeal to try to unearth clues about where he is hiding out.

Sheedy is described as white, around 39 years old, 5ft 11ins tall, of stocky build, with dark collar-length hair. He has a distinctive scar on his brow.

Det Con Ian Rayner, leading the hunt, said today: "We know he is armed, a gun was used in the robbery, and clearly he knows we are after him. He should not be approached. We have a couple of leads from the programme which we are following up today."

Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact Det Con Ian Rayner on 01245 320333 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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