Armed robbers threaten staff at leisure centre

TWO armed robbers threatened staff at St Neots Leisure Centre as they stole a quantity of cash.

The masked men, one armed with a crow bar and the other with a fence panel with nails through it, targeted the leisure centre on Sunday (February 23) at about 8.35pm.

They entered the reception area of the building in Barford Road and demanded keys to the safe.

Cambridgeshire police said one man then jumped over the counter and removed a sum of money.

Both men, who wore navy blue balaclavas, then escaped after smashing a glass door panel.

They then drove off in a car that had been stolen earlier the same day.

Detective Sergeant Carl Anderson said: "This was a frightening experience for the members of staff inside the leisure centre. Thankfully no one was hurt."

The first man was described as white and wore a blue hooded jumper, tatty stonewash denim jeans, football socks, and black Reebok trainers.

He is believed to be in his early to mid 20s, about 5ft 10in to 6ft tall and has a skinny build.

The second man was also white, in his early 20s and at least 6ft 3in tall and has a skinny build.

He wore a hooded top, which was partly green with a grey hood and grey arms, white Addidas tracksuit bottoms and white trainers.

The men were seen to get into a Ford Fiesta which had been stolen from Manor Grove in St Neots between 6.30pm and 8.35pm earlier that day.

The car was found at the rear Broadway in St Neots at 8.45pm - just nine minutes after the robbery. It had been set alight.

DS Anderson added: "I would like to speak to anyone who saw the vehicle or its occupants prior to, and after, the offence as well as anyone who saw or knows anything about the incident itself."

INFORMATION: Contact DS Anderson on 0845 4564564 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.