Raiders snatch £500 from Sidley sports club

Police said the three men waited until 11.30pm when the 21 year-old barman at Sidley Sports and Social Club was alone and about to lock the club.

Sergeant Trish Reeve-Fowkes, said the barman was so intimidated by the raiders that when she and colleagues responded to his alarm call on Tuesday night he was unable to give a detailed description of the men except that one was 6ft 3ins tall and stockily-built.

Because the clubhouse is approached by a long and twisting footpath from North Road, the barman was unable to tell police which way the men had fled or whether they had a car.

Sergeant Reeve-Fowkes said: "A member of staff was locking up for the evening when three males entered the premises and made threats to him. The men made off with 500 in cash from the till.

"No weapon was involved. The 21 year-old member of staff was unhurt but was very shaken.

"Six police officers responded with a police dog unit but the dog was unable to pick up a scent.

"The men must have been watching the premises in order to go in at a time when they knew it would be empty."

Because no weapon was used, the robbery is not being linked to Operation Mica, the police investigation into the series of armed raids in Bexhill and Hastings.

Anyone who saw the raiders making off or who has any other information is asked to contact Bexhill police station on 0845 6070999.