A MASKED man carried out two armed raids at Colchester bookmakers.

The raider, with a red mask covering his face and a hood covering his head, first targeted Corals bookies in The Willows at 7.45pm on Wednesday.

He hit the glass repeatedly with a hammer before entering the shop.

He made threats and was given money by a member of staff on the counter.

He then fled in the direction of Thomas Lord Audley School.

Eye-witnesses said he was wearing a black jacket and a grey hooded top with the hood up.

About 90 minutes later a man, again in a red mask, smashed the front door of another bookmakers in another shopping precinct - this time the Ladbrokes bookmakers in The Commons, Prettygate.

This time the man went behind the counter and grabbed hundreds of pounds.

Staff told police the man was white, around 5ft 9ins tall. He was wearing the red mask, grey jogging bottoms, a grey hooded top and dark trainers.

Following the raids police searched the areas supported by the police helicopter and the dog unit.

Officers believe the two raids are linked and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

A 22-year-old man, who lives close to the Ladbrokes shop, was arrested on suspicion of robbery and drug possession.

He was questioned on suspicion of robbery overnight at Colchester police station but was released without charge yesterday morning.

The man, who spoke to the Gazette but refused to give his name, said: “The first I knew about any raid was when I had police outside the door.

“I saw the dogs and went down to help police out then I got arrested.

“I had two masks in my car. They were for a Halloween party and for my son.

“They kept me in until the morning.”

He added: “I am disappointed because I was trying to do them a favour after I heard the helicopter and saw the police dogs and the police.”

It is the second incident at the Prettygate parade of shops in recent months.

In August, a woman crashed her car into the video shop next door.

It is the second raid at Corals in The Willows in recent years.

In January 2014, it was held up by men armed with an imitation gun and a meat cleaver.

Jay Connelly, then 20, of Magdalen Street, admitted conspiracy to commit robberies and was jailed for six years in January.

Sheldon Dodge, then 25, of Stanfield Close, was convicted of the same offence and jailed for seven years.

That time the second raid was at the Ladbrokes in Bourne Road, Colchester.

Anyone with information about the latest raids should call Det Con Duncan Collyer at Colchester CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via the website at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.