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LEDBURY town centre has suffered its third robbery in just six weeks, with a Good Friday raid on the Wine Rack store in the High Street.

A male worker handed over cash after being confronted by a hooded man with a hammer.

The latest incident means that since mid-February there has been an average of one robbery every two weeks in the centre of the small market town.

Two of them involved weapons.

Hooded youths used menaces to steal over £1000 from the Elgar Housing offices on Friday, February 15, and a gunman with a pistol fled empty handed from the HSBC Bank on Tuesday, March 4, after staff pushed the alarm button.

The incident at the Wine Rack took place on Friday, March 21, shortly before 9.30pm.

A man in a hooded parka-style jacket with a camouflaged hooded garment underneath came in with a plastic bag containing a hammer.

He demanded money and left with a small amount of cash.

Police spokesman, Neil Tipton said: "The man left the store and disappeared into the town centre immediately afterwards. The whole incident lasted less than a minute.

"Incidents of this kind are unusual in Herefordshire and police are treating it extremely seriously."

Mr Tipton added: "We believe the offender may be local so we are keen to speak to anyone who believes they may recognise the man from his description."

The offender is described as being white and in his twenties. He was between 5ft 8 inches and 5ft 10 inches tall and of slim to medium build.

Police are studying CCTV footage.

Wine Rack spokesman, Georgina Ruttle said that security measures were already in place in the store, but staff were trained not to put themselves at risk.

She added: "Good practice measures include ensuring that available cash is kept to a minimum."

Anyone with information should contact investigating officer DC Sue Prosser at Hereford CID on 08457 444888.

3:32pm Thursday 27th March 2008

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