A 24-year-old man was in custody last night after an attempted robbery at a betting shop.

A 24-year-old man was in custody last night after an attempted robbery at a betting shop.

A man brandishing a claw hammer entered the Ladbrokes betting shop in Victoria Road, Lowestoft, shortly after 7.45pm. A police spokesman said the man asked for the takings from the lone bookmaker who refused and remotely operated the magnetic door to lock the man in.

However, the man used the claw hammer to smash his way out through the glass door. A 24-year-old man was later arrested and was last night in police custody at Lowestoft police station.

No money was stolen and the bookmaker was not hurt in the incident.

Police were last night appealing for witnesses to the incident to contact 01473-613500 and to ask for Lowestoft CID.