A BOOKMAKERS was targeted for the second time in a matter of months as a pair of raiders vaulted over the counter and took hundreds of pounds in cash.

The brazen thieves went into Coral in North Station Road, Colchester, in broad daylight at 11.15am on Saturday.

They jumped over the till and took the cash before fleeing.

Fortunately, no-one was hurt in the incident.

Essex Police are now appealing for information about the raid from customers or people who were in the area at the time.

It is believed the shop would have been busier than usual with punters placing bets on the first weekend of the Premier League football season.

A spokesman said: “It was reported two men entered the store at around 11.15am, jumped the till, and took a three-figure sum of cash.

“They then left the store.

“The first man has been described as being white, between the ages of 20 and 25, and was around 6ft tall.

“He had short brown hair, wore a grey hooded jumper.

The second man was white and of a similar age and height.

“He had short mousey hair and a scruffy beard of the same colour.

“He wore a blue hooded jumper.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Colchester’s Local Policing Team on 101 quoting crime reference 42/128184/19.

Details can also be given to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 55511 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

The latest incident is being treated as a burglary by Essex Police and comes just months after same bookies was robbed a a man with a knife.

No arrests have been made in connection with the crime on January 21.

The terrifying incident saw the armed man who had a scarf covering his face enter the store - again in broad daylight at noon - and force innocent members of staff to open the till.

Again, they handed over hundreds of pounds in cash and he fled with the money in a plastic bag.

Police were informed and launched a search - which included the police helicopter - but were unable to trace the man or find the cash.

He was white, just over 6ft tall and wore a navy hooded jumper with a zip down the middle and dark jogging bottoms.

Officers are still investigating and anyone with information should quote incident number 42/11197/19.