A SECURITY guard was threatened by gunmen and robbed of thousands of pounds.

The victim was delivering a cash box to Barclays Bank in Broadway North, Pitsea, when he was confronted in the street by two raiders armed with handguns.

They forced him to hand over the cash and fled into a waiting getaway car, driven by a third person.

The blue Ford Mondeo was later found burnt out in Winifred Drive, Pitsea, where the robbers are believed to have switched cars.

Roger Grimwade of Essex Police said: "It is quite possible the robbers had a second car waiting.

"We would ask anyone who spotted them dumping the car, switching to another vehicle or anyone acting suspiciously in the roads neighbouring Winifred Drive to contact us urgently."

No-one was hurt during the robbery, but the male Securicor guard was left shaken.

In the aftermath, armed police and the force helicopter hunted for the raiders with no success.

The helicopter first scoured Wat Tyler park and officers across the division were told to keep an eye out for any suspicious vehicles.

An officer soon reported one entering Oak Lane traveller site.

The helicopter then spent 30 minutes hovering above the site and a convoy of at least six police cars, with armed officers on board, went on to the traveller site.

But Mr Grimwade insisted the suspect vehicle had no connection to the robbery.

Locals said they only became aware of the hold-up, which happened at noon yesterday, after the bank was closed.

One woman, who works in a shop nearby and did not want to be named, said: "The security guard had parked in the bus lane and I saw him walking in.

"The next thing I knew all these people were coming out of the bank and the police came and put a cordon around it."

A sign on the bank's door yesterday afternoon read "due to security issues we are unable to open at this present time. We apologise for any inconvenience."

The robbers were white, aged in their 30s or 40s with short hair.

Witnesses can contact Pitsea detectives on 01268 584212.