A pair of armed robbers who carried out a series of raids have been sentenced to a total of 27 years in prison.

Anthony Fagan, Boleyn Avenue in Enfield, 53, and Syrus Hayles, 26, entered the businesses, which included bookies, post offices and newsagents, brandishing an imitation handgun in a sock.

They wore high visibility work-wear, balaclavas, white hard hats and carried clip boards.

Fagan and Hayles previously admitted a total of eight armed robberies carried out across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Essex between November 25, 2014, and December 19, 2014.

In Watford, the pair raided Coral bookmakers in Garston Park Parade on December 7 and McColls in Tolpits Lane on December 10.

They also targeted McColls, in Tudor Parade, Rickmansworth, on November 20, the Post Office in Battlers Green Drive, Radlett, on November 25 and Tesco Express in Harcourt Road, Bushey, on December 1.

The pair were eventually caught when they were seen leaving the area in a black Vauxhall Astra after carrying out a robbery in Bedford on December 19.

Police chased the car, but the paired jumped out in Stotfold. They were arrested in a nearby garden.

Fagan was sentenced to 14 years at Luton Crown Court today for conspiracy to commit robbery, possession of an imitation firearm and dangerous driving.

Hayles, of Willingale Road in Loughton, Essex, was sentenced to 13 years for conspiracy to commit robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.

Detective Sergeant Kerry Bull from Hertfordshire Constabulary’s specialist investigation team, who led the investigation, said: “This calculated series of armed robberies caused a great deal of distress to a number of victims and I have no doubt that Fagan and Hayles, who are both career criminals and have previous convictions for similar offences, would have gone on to commit further robberies had they not been caught.

“We welcome today’s sentence and hope it serves as a warning that we will not tolerate this type of criminal activity in Hertfordshire. We will relentlessly pursue those involved in committing crime and will work with our colleagues across other forces to bring these criminals to justice.”