DRAMATIC video stills showing the moment an armed gang burst into a bookmakers and threatened staff with a gun before escaping with £1,000 have been released by police.

The masked raiders burst into the BetFred betting shop in High Road, Swaythling, and one of the men jumped over the counter.

Click here to watch the CCTV

He pointed a gun in the faces of staff and a customer who had been inside the store, and the robbers made off after stuffing £1,000 in a bag.

They escaped by running across several lanes of traffic and through a number of front gardens before jumping in to a getaway car.

Since the hold-up at 6.30pm on June 30, four people have been arrested - three men aged 18, 18 and 47 and a woman aged 30.

All have been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Detectives are now linking the raid to a similar incident in which a gun-wielding robber attempted to hold up Coral bookmakers just a mile away in Burgess Road, Bassett, on Friday.

Wearing a hood and a balaclava, the man burst into the shop, jumped over the desk and pointed a gun at staff, but was chased away without stealing anything.

The man is believed to be about 20 years old.

He was wearing dark clothing and ran off in the direction of the Flowers Estate.

Police have released CCTV footage of the BetFred raid in the hope that the gang can be identified.

Det Insp Roger Middle, whois leading the operation, said: "These are audacious crimes resulting in innocent members of our community being terrorised and threatened.

I am asking for the community's help in identifying these people."

Anyone with information about either raid is urged to contact Bitterne CID quoting Operation Eyre on 0845 045 4545 or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.