Bookie hit in daylight raid on Royal Mile

A ROYAL Mile bookmakers was held up in a brazen daylight raid.

A barefaced thief burst into Ladbrokes bookmakers yesterday morning and terrorised staff before fleeing with hundreds of pounds in cash.

It is understood in-store CCTV captured an image of the man, which has been handed over to police.

The incident took place yesterday morning, as swathes of tourists milled around the historic thoroughfare.

Hours after the robbery, several police vehicles were seen racing to the Dumbiedykes area of the city — just a few hundred metres from the crime scene — where officers positioned themselves in gardens and streets.

Cllr Joanna Mowat, who represents the city centre, said: “It’s very worrying and clearly my first thoughts are with the staff who had to endure a traumatic experience and I hope they will be able to get over this.”

A police spokesman said a 43-year-old man was later arrested and charged in connection with the alleged incident and will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.