A HAVE-A-GO hero tackled an armed robber as he fled a Worcester bookmakers.

The masked man had threatened a female member of staff at Corals in Trinity Street on Sunday at about 11am - just six weeks after a similar raid on William Hill bookmakers in St John's.

He had entered the shop and threatened to cut her with his knife - and used an imitation pistol during the raid, before trying to make off with a small amount of cash.

But the unknown customer was alerted by the female and he pushed him to the floor.

Deputy retail manager Marg Harrison, who was there shortly after the incident happened, said the woman was at home recovering and had been very stoic.

Mrs Harrison said she understood the man, who had been spotted just days before acting suspiciously by staff, had lost his mask during the scuffle and when he ran off left a trail of coins.

"It was very brave of the customer. He tackled him down to the ground and the mask came off and he dropped his gun before he ran off. He could have endangered himself. "

Police are appealing for witnesses and have released a description of the man who made off down an alley towards High Street.

He is described as in his mid-20s. He was wearing tracksuit bottoms and a dark, hooded anorak. He was slim and about 6ft tall.

The mask, along with the replica pistol and a watch, were left at the scene and the cash tray was discovered by police during a subsequent area search.

A police spokesman said: "Officers would like to hear from anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area - or anyone matching the description given - around the time of the robbery." During the raid on the St John's bookies, which happened at about 6pm on Sunday, October 21, the masked robber threatened staff with a gun and knife before making off with cash.

He is described as white, aged between 20 and 30 and about 5ft 10in to 6ft.

He had short, dark, straight hair and was thin. He was wearing a green waist-length jacket and dark tracksuit bottoms with white piping. He was also carrying a white plastic bag.

Yesterday police said they were keeping an open mind about any links with this incident, for which nobody has been arrested.

Anyone with information should call police on 08457 444 888, quoting 271/S/021207, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.