Man escapes armed raid at McDonald's after toilet trip

Contractor emerged from lavatory to find restaurant had been robbed

(GETTY IMAGES)

A man escaped a terrifying raid by an armed robber at McDonald's after taking a perfectly timed trip to the toilet.

Jon Benson, a self-employed electrical contractor, emerged from the lavatory to find an armed robber wearing a balaclava had stormed the fast-food restaurant in Eastgate, Peterborough, causing panic among customers and staff.

He tweeted: "Just come out of the toilet at McDonald's in Peterborough to armed police.

"Place got robbed whilst I was in there. And it's my birthday."

He added: "Who said having your birthday on a Monday is boring? I went to this mad place called Peterborough. Its like Sierra Leone."

Mr Benson said he was in the toilet for 10 minutes and narrowly escaped the raid. He said staff and customers were hiding in the car park in terror. Police arrived at the scene soon after but the raider managed to flee with cash from the till.

Cambridgeshire Police are examining CCTV of the incident, which is understood to have taken place at about 10.45am on Monday.

Anyone with information should contact the force on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.