A GUNMAN left a trail of cash as he fled into woods after holding up a bank.

The robber walked into Midland Bank in Chislehurst High Street after 2.30pm last Wednesday brandishing a sawn-off shotgun and threatening staff.

A terrified bank worker handed over cash and the balaclava-clad suspect fled with a substantial amount of cash.

He ran out of the bank towards Prince Imperial Road scattering notes as he fled into the woods.

The raid happened just days after a robber with a similar description marched into Lloyd's Bank in Beckenham and got away with carrier bags of cash.

The brave 27-year-old male employee who was threatened in Chislehurst was back at work the next day.

A bank spokesman said: "Whenever an incident like this happens we have to reassess our security arrangements. Staff were quite distressed, it was a very unpleasant incident and not something they expected at all."

Detective Sergeant Mark Drew said: "This robber is a dangerous man. He would have only been in the bank for a minute or two.

"There is not a great deal you can do to stop this man coming in.

"We are very keen to catch him but as he was wearing a balaclava we cannot link him to other robberies."

Police are appealing for witnesses.

The suspect is a white male, between 6ft and 6ft 3ins with a stocky build.

He was wearing a dark bomber jacket and dark trousers.

The robber in Beckenham was described as 6ft tall, muscular, wearing a dark bomber jacket.

If you have any information call DS Drew at the Flying Squad on 0171 407 6319.

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