THE Broadstone HSBC bank is the third business targeted by robbers in Dorset and the New Forest in the past week.

On Good Friday two masked robbers stormed into the Co-operative store in Parsonage Barn Lane in Ringwood and stole cash from the counter and packets of cigarettes.

The robbers fled the scene when terrified staff refused to meet their demands to hand over the keys to the shop safe.

Detectives investigating the incident, which happened between 7.20am and 7.30am, said the thieves drove away in a black Astra convertible which had been stolen in Southbourne the previous day. The car was later found abandoned in Poplar Way, Ringwood. Witnesses say they saw two people leave the Astra and drive away from Poplar Way in a white or silver vehicle.

The second incident happened in Blandford on Wednesday when a lone-robber targeted the One Stop store on Salisbury Road.

The raider entered the shop at 10.20pm and demanded money from staff who handed him an undisclosed sum of cash.

The man fled the scene. Police launched a search of the area but no one has been arrested.

A Dorset Police spokesman said that no weapons had been seen during the raid and no one was injured. The robber is described as white, around 6ft, slim build and had ginger coloured-eyebrows.

He was wearing a dark-coloured suede type coat with a matching hood, dark coloured trousers and a black scarf concealing his face.