TWO masked men wielding an axe carried out a terrifying armed raid on a Hampshire betting shop.

The men approached the counter at Coral in Leigh Road, Eastleigh, brandishing the weapon and demanded cash, stealing £260 from the tills before making off on a silver racing bike and black mountain bike respectively.

One of the men had his face covered with a skull design and was wearing dark clothing while the other also had his face covered and was wearing grey clothes with white stripes on his trousers.

The incident took place at around 8.40pm on July 23 and is one of two armed raids currently being investigated in the space of a few days after a pair of masked men wielding hammers tried to rob Santander in Burgess Road, Southampton, yesterday (July 28).

Anyone with information should contact DC Dal Andrews on 101 quoting reference 44150254130, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.