Police hunting bank robber after raid at Santander, in Woodgate, Leicester

Detectives are hunting a bank robber after a raid in Leicester yesterday afternoon.

A man threatened staff and demanded money after walking into Santander, in Woodgate, Frog Island.

Armed police were called to the scene, while onlookers gathered in the street and traffic came to a standstill.

Sam Kumar, 23, an assistant in the Mercury News Shop a few doors away from the bank, witnessed some of the drama.

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"I was serving customers at about 4.30pm when my friend, who runs the beauty shop next door, came in and told me there was a raid going on at the bank and warned me to be careful," he said.

"She said a bank employee had run into the shop next door and asked them to call the police.

"They said there was an armed man in the bank.

"I locked my shop immediately and stood outside as the police arrived.

"There were about 12 officers in total, with at least two of them armed with rifles."

Mr Kumar said police later visited the newsagent's to interview him and scan CCTV footage taken inside and outside the shop.

"They said they were looking to see if a man fitting the description of the robber had been captured on camera," he said.

"That is all I know. I didn't see anyone run out of the bank with any money.

"It's all pretty frightening, really. As a shopkeeper, it makes you feel quite vulnerable."

A police spokeswoman said: "Officers were called to Woodgate at 4.32pm after a report of a robbery.

"It is believed a man entered the premises and threatened a staff member before making off with money.

"No one was injured in the incident and inquiries into the robbery are in their very early stages."

A spokesman for Santander said: "We can confirm an incident took place at our Woodgate branch and we are assisting police with their inquiries."

Officers remained at the bank, a former branch of Alliance & Leicester, last night as the investigation into the raid continued.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any information about the robbery or those responsible, is urged to contact detectives on 101.