Police are appealing for witnesses after an attempted knife-point robbery at a bookmakers on Easter Road which took place around 8.41pm last night.

A male approached a member of staff at the William Hill premises brandishing a knife and  demanded money.

Officers are now asking anyone who was in the area at the time or who has information that can assist with their inquiries to please get in contact.

The suspect is described as being around 5ft 9 inches tall with a Scottish accent. He was wearing a black hooded top with the hood tied tight around his face. The top had a white motif on the left side of the chest.

He was also wearing black tracksuit trousers with a matching white motif on the left thigh, black trainers with a white line around the sole.

Detective Constable Stevie Herd from Gayfield CID said: “This suspect was intending to rob the bookmakers but was thwarted by the quick thinking of the member of staff.

“Although he left empty-handed, he caused a considerable amount of fear and alarm and we are keen to trace him as quickly as possible.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact officers on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 quoting incident number 3918 of the 9th April.

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John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.