Snapped!

MOMENT of terror . . . one of the masked men smashes glass with a golf club

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Our man catches armed raiders in the act

THIS is the terrifying moment when three armed men smashed into a Shaw bookies and threatened staff and customers.

A quick-thinking Chronicle photographer captured the snap of the armed raid as, by chance, he was inside the bookmakers preparing a photo-shoot.

The masked men burst into Coral bookmakers on Beal Lane at 6.30pm yesterday as our man was about to take a picture of a cheque presentation.

Armed with golf clubs, the men smashed a glass partition and ordered terrified customers and staff on to the street.

But little did the gang know, our cool-headed photographer managed to sneak some shots as he left. He has now passed on the pictures to police as evidence.

He also captured pictures of them escaping in a Mini — found burned out moments later in Bowler Street.

He said: “I was literally gathering three people together for a photograph when suddenly, from absolutely nowhere, these blokes started smashing the security glass and shouting ‘everyone get out now.’

“It happened instantly, it was incredible. It was a matter of seconds and I thought ‘is this real?’ I stayed long enough to take a couple of pictures. I had the camera in front of me but I did not put it up to my eye — and I didn’t use the flash!

“I just hoped that they wouldn’t notice. But they were too busy smashing the glass so didn’t look at the customers.

“It all took a couple of minutes and they were in a Mini so as they shot past I got a picture of that. I was shaking afterwards — everyone was. Everyone was scared, but it all happened so quickly at the time.

“It’s a picture I have waited to take all my life. I did not think about what they might do, I just thought I can’t leave without the picture.”

The photographer was only still at the bookmakers because a cheque presentation — £700 from Coral to the Sue Ryder Foundation after a charity football tournament — had been delayed because a motorway accident meant one of those taking part was running late.

There were around eight people in the bookmakers at the time. Staff were in tears afterwards as they gave statements to police. A 54-year-old worker suffered cuts to his arm as a result of the flying glass. He was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Police said at least two of the men spoke with Liverpool accents.

Anyone with information is asked to call Oldham CID on 0161-856 8951.