WOULD-be robbers fled empty handed after targeting BetFred Bookmakers on Stockton High Street.

Two men entered the shop at around 8.30pm on Monday, February 4, one of the suspects jumped over the counter and tried to take money from the till before making off empty handed.

A female staff member was pushed out of the way by the suspect as he tried to take cash from the till.

The woman was uninjured during the attempted robbery but left shaken.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: "The first suspect is described as a white male, around 6ft tall, of thin build and aged in his mid-thirties with pale skin and unshaven. He was wearing a black and grey hooded top, a black beanie underneath and black bottoms.

"The seconds suspect is described as a white male, around 5ft tall, of large build, around 60 years old, really pale with wrinkles. He was wearing a grey tracksuit top with the hood up and black bottoms."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Constable Jeff Fleet from Stockton Operational Crime Team on the non-emergency number 101, quoting event number 20258.

Alternatively, witnesses can pass on information through the independent charity Crimestoppers who can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org