DETECTIVES have arrested a third man in connection with an armed robbery on a bookmakers in York.

Police said at the weekend that the 32-year-old local man would be held in custody while they carried out further inquiries into the raid on the Coral shop, which happened at about 11.30am last Wednesday in Beckfield Lane, Acomb. A man held up the shop with a gun.

Police have previously arrested two local men, one aged 18 and the other aged 25, in connection with the robbery.

Detective Inspector Guy Wilson, of York Police, said last week that both the men had been interviewed and released on bail pending further inquiries.

He previously told The Press that an armed man threatened the male shop manager who was alone on the premises, and demanded cash before making off with an undisclosed amount.

The suspect fled in the direction of Ostman Road and Viking Road, triggering a manhunt involving officers from the firearms support unit.

Coral said the robbery was the first such incident at the shop since it opened almost ten years ago.

A spokeswoman for Coral bookmakers said last week that the manager was not behind the counter when the offender came in.

“He forced him behind the counter and told him to take all the money out of the till," she said.

“There were no customers in the shop at the time.”

She said the manager was uninjured but “unsurprisingly shaken” by the incident.

“From our point of view, it’s the welfare and safety of our staff and customers which is the number one priority,” she said.

The spokeswoman said the company did not comment on sums stolen in raids, but added: “It’s sad that it’s come to this, for what doesn’t amount to a great deal of money.” The suspect was described at the time as white, about 5ft 8in tall, and of skinny build. His face was covered by a grey hood. He was also wearing black tracksuit bottoms.

CCTV images were passed to the police as part of their inquiry.

Anyone with information should phone York CID on 0845 6060247 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.