An armed robber is being hunted by police after three raids in Ashford, Shepperton and Egham in one week.

Nationwide Ashford, Egham Abbey National and the Halifax in Shepperton The robber demanded cash from staff at the Nationwide in Church Road, Ashford on Friday after telling them he had a gun we would shoot at customers.

But he ran off empty handed after security shutters were activated.

The second raid came just 40 minutes later.

At the Shepperton High Street Halifax branch, one member of staff was forced to hand over a substantial amount of money in a bag after being told he had a gun in a bag.

Detective Constable Simon Egan said both robberies were serious incidents where bank staff and customers were threatened.

Police believe the same man attempted to rob Abbey National in Egham High Street on February 5.

The robber told one member of staff to hand over her till but fled without it after being disturbed by another bank worker.

The man is described as white, aged 35 to 40 and 5ft 11in or 6ft tall and was wearing a dark woolly hat and a black jacket.