A POLICE helicopter was searching for a man with a hammer last night after he threatened staff in a Basingstoke bookmaker.

The man walked into Coral betting shop, near The Camrose football ground, in Winchester Road, South Ham and made off with a bag of cash, shortly after 9pm.

He threatened staff with a hammer but no one was injured.

The man is described as about 5ft 10ins to 6ft tall and was carrying a Morrison’s carrier bag.

Following the robbery he made off towards Winchester Road and then Elizabeth Road.

Detective constable Rod Kenny, officer in the case, said: “This robbery happened near a busy stretch of road so people may have seen something that could help this investigation.

“Were you driving or walking in the area on Wednesday evening? Did you see a man acting suspiciously in Winchester Road near to the football ground?

“I would also like to appeal specifically to people living in the Elizabeth Road area to contact me if they have found a discarded hammer on the ground or in their garden.”

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Kenny at Basingstoke CID quoting Operation Kinship on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.