BRAVE staff at an Ipswich off-licence vowed to keep business as normal over Christmas despite suffering a second robbery in six months.Shortly after 6pm last Friday a man dressed in black threatened a member of staff with what is thought to be a handgun at the Thresher wine store in Bramford Road, before escaping with a small amount of money.

BRAVE staff at an Ipswich off-licence vowed to keep business as normal over Christmas despite suffering a second robbery in six months.

Shortly after 6pm last Friday a man dressed in black threatened a member of staff with what is thought to be a handgun at the Thresher wine store in Bramford Road, before escaping with a small amount of money.

Staff at Thresher said the shop assistant, who was threatened by a man she thought was brandishing a gun, was trying to put the raid behind her.

One employee said: "She wasn't hurt, just shocked. She thought she saw a gun and handed over some money. It wasn't very much, only around £30.

"The shop was open as usual over the weekend and will be open as normal over the Christmas. period

"I don't really know what all the fuss is about as the one we had before was much more serious."

That incident came in June when masked raiders armed with a crowbar leapt over the counter of the same off-licence and threatened two female assistants.

Police have still not made any arrests in connection with that incident in which the two robbers made off with cash and goods worth hundreds of pounds

The man responsible for this latest robbery was still at large today and police

believe the same man may have struck less than four hours later in the same part of town.

At 9.50pm on the same night, a man walked into the Co-op store in Ulster Avenue.

It is believed he pulled a gun out on a female member of staff and fled with £180.

The female shop assistant at the Co-op immediately handed over the cash by following the company's procedure and wasn't hurt.

Suffolk Police are working on the possibility that the two incidents may be linked and said the robber was described as white, 6ft tall, with dark hair.

He had a black scarf over his face and was wearing a black anorak with white stripes across it.

Police have appealed for anyone with information to contact 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111