by Nick Lillitos

nlillitos@thekmgroup.co.uk

A robber armed with a sawn-off shotgun ordered shaking customers in a bookmakers to lay face down on the floor before escaping with the takings.

Terror visited Jeff Mabey bookies, in New Romney High Street, at around 10.30am this morning as Leigh Mabey, the 26-year-old son of owner Jeff, was with five customers.

A white man dressed in black clothes, wearing a dark baseball cap and a scarf halfway round his face, walked into the shop and started pointing the gun in their faces, shouting at them to hit the floor.

He is believed to be in his 20s.

Only a few minutes before the raid shop owner Jeff Mabey, 52, had left his son in charge to go to the nearby butcher's shop.

Mr Mabey senior, said: "It was not a very pleasant experience for my customers and my son to have to go through.

"Having the barrel of a gun stuck in your face was terrifying for them.

"Leigh is badly shaken but is holding up very well. We have CCTV in the shop and I'm optimistic they'll catch him, the footage is pretty comprehensive."

Anyone with information should contact Det Sgt James Ross, who is leading the hunt, on 01303 289 184 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.