Coventry City Council has hit back at claims that an armed robbery at the city’s Wholesale Market was worsened by the absence of their gate man.

The council’s contract administrator Steve Dibb revealed that there was an investigation underway.

He said:

"We are still looking into the matter and I am waiting for a report from my contracting team for consideration.

"When I receive this we will look into it and see if there are any recommendations to be made or any action to be taken but at this point I cannot go into that."

However Dibb did refute suggestions that the gate man who was supposed to be working was off sick and had not been replaced.

"That is not what I have been advised," he said. "I cannot deny or confirm it until the full report comes back but that is not what has been said to me."

The robbery took place at the Barras Heath market at around 12.10pm on Friday when a Cashco security guard collecting takings from wholesaler John Bird had a gun held to his head.

The two robbers then grabbed a cash box, thought to contain around £4,000 in cash and cheques, before fleeing towards Coventry Street on a red Honda motorbike which had been stolen from Wyken nearly two weeks earlier.

Although the traders were reportedly angry that the gateway was unmanned Dibb has stressed that the gate man is not a security guard.

He said:

"The gate man is just there to enforce market by-laws and ensure the authenticity of traders."

A police spokesman admitted that they had little to go on for the enquiry.

He said:

"The only description we have is hat they were both wearing dark helmets, although we will be helped by the fact that a security device in the cash box was activated which will have covered the contents, the motorbike and the robbers with red die."

Trader John Bird, who is also the Managing Director of the market, declined to comment on the matter.