The suspect was tasered and arrested after officers walked in on the alleged robbery (Picture: Getty/PA)

A suspected armed robber in a clown mask was tasered by police officers when they popped in for coffee as he allegedly tried to hold up a McDonald’s.

West Midlands Police said that two of its officers were heading inside when they were met by fleeing customers yelling: ‘He’s got a knife.’

As the response officers entered they were greeted with the sight of a masked man holding a kitchen knife threatening staff and demanding they hand over cash.

A 41-year-old man was tasered at the scene and arrested on suspicion of armed robbery.

The force’s response account later tweeted details of the incident, ending their post with ‘#whataclown’.

The officers were met by fleeing customers shouting: ‘He’s got a knife’ (Picture: Google Map)

They had been on their way in to grab a coffee at the time (Picture: Bloomberg)

The force said the taser had again proved ‘a vital tool to apprehend violent offenders’ (Picture: PA)

Officer's quickly enter and taser is deployed resulting in the offender being detained & arrested. McDonalds staff, officers & customers unharmed.Taser again proving a vital tool to apprehend violent offenders. #whataclown #arrested #Taser — Force Response (@ResponseWMP) August 7, 2019

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The incident unfolded at the McDonald’s on the Alvis Retail Park in the Earlsdon area of Coventry at 12.30am on Wednesday.

Detective Inspector Kat Sibley, of West Midlands Police, said of the officers: ‘They were in exactly the right place at the right time.’