IMITATION firearms including a fake AK-47 assault rifle were used by raiders who struck terror into staff at Abrakebabra on Wexford's North Main Street in the early hours of last Wednesday morning.

Two female employees suffered a traumatic ordeal as the thieves brandished the 'guns' – which also included another replica rifle and a replica handgun – and demanded the night's takings before making off with a sum of cash.

It is believed the imitation firearms were taken in an earlier raid at Hamilton's shop at the Bullring, where 'everything from carbolic soap to a set of pink rosary beads' was stolen, according to owner Nigel Hamilton.

THREE YOUTHS, one aged just 14, carried out an 'armed' robbery on Abrakebabra, gardaí believe.

The raid occurred around midnight last Tuesday night/ Wednesday morning.

The raiders entered Abrakebabra with imitation firearms: one carried a replica AK-47 assault rifle, one carried a replica rifle and the third carried a replica handgun.

It is believed the imitation firearms were robbed from Hamilton's at the Bullring earlier that night.

The three raiders were wearing hoodies, with the hoods pulled up around their faces when they entered the fast food outlet and it's understood they also had scarves partially covering their faces.

The two terrified female staff working behind the counter at the time (a male member of staff had left just a short time earlier) were threatened at gunpoint by the three raiders who demanded that they hand over the cash from the till. There were no physical assaults, though the two women were left very shaken following their ordeal. It's understood the three raiders, who fled on foot, escaped with around €600.

Imitation firearms, believed to include those used in the armed raid, were recovered on waste ground in the Westgate area by gardaí. THE imitation firearms used in the raid on Abrakebabra are believed to have been stolen from Hamilton's shop at 53 North Main Street.

It's believed the break-in occurred between 11 p. m. and 11.45 p. m. and that Hamilton's was accessed from an overhead apartment, which is not currently occupied.

The thieves took a huge amount of stock out of the shop, located by the Bullring.

As well as the imitation firearms they removed a huge amount of the other wide range of goods stoked at Hamilton's, the majority of which were located in wheelie bins and bags behind the shop by gardaí on Wednesday morning.

A small number of items, including imitation firearms believed to have been used in the raid, have been retained by gardaí.

Proprietor Nigel Hamilton said he is still unsure as to whether all the items taken have been recovered by Gardaí, such was the volume of goods removed from the shop.

Mr Hamilton said everything from carbolic soap to a set of pink rosary beads were taken by those who broke into his well-known business, where he also offers a phone repair service.

Hamilton's sells a selection of replica firearms and pellet guns. The replica firearms ( which include the likes of handgun lighters) include AK-47 assault rifles, pistols and older style rifles. They are only sold to over-18s.

- Conor CULLEN