POLICE are hunting armed raiders today after machete-wielding robbers tied up staff at an Ipswich fast food restaurant.Two balaclava-clad robbers raided Burger King at Copdock interchange just before 11.30pm yesterday.

A TEENAGE burger bar worker barged passed a machete-wielding raider to escape an armed robbery at Copdock and sound the alarm.

Police hunting two armed attackers today said the young man sustained a hand injury as he pushed past the balaclava-clad raider in Burger King at Copdock Mill

The robbers, both dressed in black and wearing balaclavas, burst into the fast-food restaurant just before 11.30pm yesterday.

Three members of staff were in the store, but no customers were in the premises at the time as the restaurant had just closed.

Although one teenager managed to escape and phone the police, his two co-workers - another teenage male and a 20-year-old female were tied up by the raiders, who were also brandishing an extendable baton.

Police said staff were forced to hand over a substantial amount of cash, before being bound. The exact amount of the robbers' haul has not been disclosed.

The two men fled before armed police arrived.

Officers say they are keen to trace a silver car which was seen in the area at the time of the raid and may have been used as a getaway car.

CCTV at the restaurant could now play a vital part in the police investigation.

Early today descriptions were issued of the two men who carried out the attack.

The man with the machete was white, of medium build and aged around 20. The second robber was also of medium build and about the same age.

Burger King at Copdock Mill is close to the A12 and A14 roads giving a quick route out of the county to the Midlands and to the South East.

It is surrounded by a number of larger stores including Tesco, Toys R Us and Mothercare World but none of them were open at the time if the raid.

Police officers are also trying to establish of there are any links to a similar raid in Cambridge earlier in the evening.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said two men entered the store and threatened staff with weapons.

She said: “It was just three members of staff in the store and no customers.”

She added that the robbers made off with just cash.

Three members of staff were at the store this morning but no-one wanted to comment on the incident.

They said they were unsure whether the franchise would be open today.

Any witnesses to the raid or who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area at the time should call Suffolk Police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers 0800 555111.