The sister of a shop assistant who had a gun pointed in her face during a terrifying armed raid at a Shrewsbury bookmakers today said she was coping well despite her ordeal.

Mother-of-two Tanya Trow was working alone at the Corbett betting shop in Castle Foregate, when a man demanded cash from the safe and threatened her with a gun, her sister Zoe Flynn said.

Miss Flynn, who also works at the bookmakers, said her 29-year-old sister, from Oswestry, had been left shaken following the incident on Thursday evening.

She said the incident was over “within seconds” and said no customers were in the shop at the time.

The betting shop was open as usual this morning but Miss Flynn said police had been studying CCTV footage inside the premises with the whole incident captured on tape.

A man arrested in connection with the robbery has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

A second man arrested at the same time following the incident, which happened just before 6pm, was released without charge yesterday. Police said inquiries were continuing today.

Miss Flynn said her sister was not harmed during the incident and the robber left empty-handed.

She said: “She was a bit shaken and shocked at first but then she was all right. 

“She is fine. She’s got two young children and just wants to see them.”

Miss Flynn said the robber fled after realising the safe was locked. Detective Inspector Gavin Kinrade, of Shrewsbury CID, appealed for anyone with any information to call police on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.