Police step up hunt for bingo hall raider

Shop staff in the town's busy Leigh Road pedestrian precinct raised the alarm after seeing the 45-year-old Bishopstoke woman screaming for help as she leant out of an upstairs window at the Leo Luxury Bingo Club.

The terrified woman pleaded for help from passers-by who said her hands were blue and tied with tape.

She was fed herbal anti-stress tablets by the intruder - but police said she had been very badly shaken by her ordeal.

Along with screaming for help, the woman shouted that she worried about her children after the raider took her mobile phone and home address.

Police raced to the scene and an ambulance was also called. Paramedics checked the woman over but she initially didn't want to go to hospital. However, she was taken for a check-up last night as a precaution.

She suffered bruising to her upper arm and ear and also twisted her left knee when she wrestled with her assailant as he bound her ankles and hands.

Detectives said the raider - described as white, in his mid-30s, about 6ft, with dark receding hair and wearing a black shirt, dark cords and dark shoes - forced his way into the club shortly before 8am and left at 9am with a small amount of cash stolen from fruit machines.

He is thought to used a red car.

Jasmine Bills, 46, manager of Help the Aged shop opposite the bingo hall, saw the woman leaning out of the window.

"She said her hands and legs were tied and her hands looked blue to me. She was very distressed. I tried talking to her to keep her calm while someone went to get the assistant manager of the club."

After the raid police sealed off the entrance to the bingo club, which remained closed all day.

A steady stream of disappointed bingo fans were turned away by police, who explained there had been an "incident" in the club.

No one from the club was available for comment.

Anyone with information can contact Eastleigh police station on 0845 045 4545.