The branch was almost empty when the man walked in. Photo by Simon Finlay.

A robber escaped with a carrier bag of cash from a city centre bank today.

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A robber escaped with a Tesco carrier bag full of cash from a city centre bank today.

Police were called to a raid at the Co-op Bank in London Street just after midday.

A man wearing a hood and covering his face with a scarf walked into the bank holding what appeared to be a sharp object underneath the carrier bag, but police said no weapon was seen.

The man then walked up to the cashier and whispered something to her.

One witness who gave his name as Luke S was waiting to talk to Co-op staff about online banking when the raid took place.

“I walked to the bank and when I passed him (the raider) he started following me,” he said. “I sat down inside. There were only two people in the bank and about five minutes later I saw a manager running towards the door.

“He was shutting everything down and the next minute he was calling the police.”

Stores across the city centre were quickly alerted by police about the raid, and warned to be on their guard.

An appeal was also sent out to hunt down the man.

Mr S added: “He had a Tesco bag with something sharp inside. It looked like a gun.

“He was very quiet and he took the cash and walked away.

“The guy standing behind him didn’t even notice.”

Eyewitnesses said the man was covering his face with a scarf and hood and was watching the store from outside the Open Venue on Bank Plain before he went in.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the raid which happened around 12.10pm.

In a statement they said: “A quantity of cash was handed over and the offender fled the scene and is believed to have gone in the direction of Tombland.

“No-one was hurt in the incident and no vehicle was seen.”

The suspect was described as around six foot tall, of skinny build, aged in his early 20s, with brown hair.

He was wearing a grey hooded top or dark jacket with a hood, blue jeans and had a grey or blue scarf over his face. He also wore white trainers and was unshaven.

Detective Sergeant Nigel Gillick from Bethel Street CID said: “Our enquiries continue and we’d appeal for anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in the area prior to the incident and also immediately after the robbery to call us.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has knowledge of the robbery should contact Bethel Street CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A spokesman for the Co-op said the branch will open again tomorrow.

•If you captured the incident on camera, please share your photos on www.iwitness24.co.uk.