POLICE descended on a bank in Wallisdown yesterday after an armed robbery.

The incident happened at around 10am and the scene at Barclays Bank in Bryant Road was sealed off.

Witnesses said they thought that the man was armed, although police say that no weapon was seen.

Martyn Goodchild, who lives nearby, was walking his dog when he saw the commotion.

He said: “As I was walking past I was chatting to someone who said it had just happened.

“It’s tucked away and there are alleyways there and the heathland.”

Louise Davis, of nearby Mark Anthony Kitchens and Bathrooms, said: “The road was closed off and there were police everywhere with sniffer dogs.

“A police officer came in and asked if I had seen anything because they think the robber escaped down an alleyway between the bank and Alder Road.”

One man, who asked not to be named, told the Daily Echo at the scene: “I was at the cashpoint when I saw a guy come out of the side road, walking out of there.

“When I got into my car he got into a green Peugeot estate, a 306 or 307.

“He just walked out and round into the bank and walked back again.

“He was limping, he had blue tape over his face. He looked like he’d had a nose job; you couldn’t see his nose and you could barely see his eyes.

“When he got in the car they went off around the corner and there was a lot of pink smoke – the dye they put in the money bags had gone off in the car.”

In details released late this afternoon, police said a man entered the bank, demanding money.

Staff handed cash over and he left and was seen getting into a metallic light green-coloured Peugeot estate, which was parked on Bryant Road with another person inside.

It drove off towards Mossley Road.

A security pack from the bank containing red dye is believed to have discharged in the vehicle, which would have covered the occupants and the inside of the vehicle.

Armed officers were sent to the scene and the police helicopter was brought in for the search, but nobody has been arrested so far.

Police said that nobody was hurt and no weapon was seen.

The offender is described as a white man, approximately five feet ten inches tall, wearing blue tape or a bandana to disguise his face.

He was wearing a light blue tracksuit top, black Nike tracksuit bottoms which had a white Nike tick on the left and white trainers. He was also wearing a brown baseball cap which had a fawn coloured peak and white writing on it.

DS Dave Colomb, of Bournemouth and Poole CID, said: “The robber and his accomplice could have red dye on them that is extremely difficult to remove. The dye will also be in the vehicle and possibly on the windows.

“Anyone who has suspicions or concerns about anyone who has red dye on them are advised not to approach them but to call the police immediately.

“Witnesses who may have seen this vehicle or anyone who has information that can help with the investigation is urged to come forward urgently and in confidence.”

The bank was closed while investigations were carried out.

Witnesses should call 101, quoting incident number 10:98, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The bank was last targeted in December 2012, when a man queued with customers before approaching the cashier and demanding cash, as well as making threats to harm members of the public in the branch.