DETECTIVES are hunting this masked man after a bank robbery in Poole.

As reported by the Daily Echo, a man entered Barclay’s at Bryant Road, off Wallisdown Road, at around 1.15pm on Thursday.

Police have now released a CCTV image of a man they want to speak to about the raid and have asked any further witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

Officers said a man entered the bank and queued with customers and when he approached the cashier he demanded money and made threats to harm members of the public.

Detectives said that no weapon was seen, although witnesses have told the Echo that they saw a gun.

Nobody was injured in the robbery.

Detective Constable Jo Regan, of Bournemouth CID, said: “This is a serious incident and I am now able to release a CCTV image of a man that I believe can help us with the investigation.

“I urge the man shown in the picture, or anyone who recognises him, to contact Dorset Police urgently.

“I am also keen to speak to anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously before or after the incident.”

Following the raid, Marian Morris, 71, who was in the bank at the time with a handful of other customers, told the Echo what she saw.

She said a man started to talk to the cashier, but the way he was speaking was “odd”.

Marian said she heard him say “and the rest” to the cashier, before he passed her on the way out holding a supermarket bag that contained what looked like money.

She followed him out and saw him run off into an alley.

Marian added: “A lady said he had a gun and she believed he said something like: ‘Give me the money or I will shoot you and everyone else in here’.”

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101 quoting incident number 6:227. Alternatively, call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.