Two men claiming to have a gun held up an Oxford travel agents today and fled with cash.

The pair went in to Co-op Travel in Chapel Way, Botley, at about 10.20am, police spokesman Victoria Brandon said.

They held up a bag and said they had a gun but no weapon was seen.

They escaped with cash and travellers' cheques but it is not known at the moment if this was in sterling or foreign currency.

The shop is shut and officers are just beginning to take down a cordon.

Neil Tutton, 24, who works at totesport, said: "The first thing that we knew about it was when they cordoned off the shop.

"They asked if we have seen or heard anything but we had not.

"This is considered quite a safe area.

"They asked if we had any security cameras in the road but we have not."

Anhar Ali, a chef at the Bilash restaurant, added: " I came to work at 11.30am and the cordon was already up.

"Everyone is shocked but we don't know any details."