A knife-wielding thief is thought to have raided three bookies in the last 24 hours - wearing a homemade mask made out of a bobble hat.

The suspect is believed to have struck in Thanet on each occasion before making off with cash in a carrier bag.

Police are now appealing for witnesses and help to track him down.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "At the moment, officers cannot say it is the same individual, but on each occasion, a white man wearing what looks like a homemade balaclava has gone into the stores, threatened staff with a knife and demanded money.

"He has run off with the cash in a carrier bag."

The first raid took place at Coral in Grange Road, Ramsgate, shortly after it opened yesterday morning at 8.30am.

The thief was the female teller's second customer of the day and got away with a couple of hundred pounds.

At around 9pm a man went into BetFred in Station Road in Birchington and demanded cash.

He brandished a knife and left the shop with just under £100.

Then this morning, at Coral in Westgate, a man did the same thing to the woman behind the counter just after 9am and got just over £100.

The police spokesman added: "The balaclava has been described by witnesses as black with a circular pattern.

"It could be a bobble hat with holes cut in it.

"The tellers who were confronted say the offender was between 5ft 5ins and 5ft 9ins and had a dark bomber-style jacket with hood and white stripes, dark combat trousers and trainers.

"CCTV is being reviewed. It is hoped there may be a clear image of the offender on one of the tapes as it is believed he entered one of the stores without the headgear before returning to rob it."

Anyone with any information should contact Margate Police Station on 01843 222 076 or 222 089 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.