A gang of armed robbers whose crimes included a security van raid outside an Oxford bank were today jailed for a total of more than 70 years.

Seven members of the gang that struck at 18 banks in southern England, targeting security vans making cash deliveries, were sentenced at Kingston Crown Court, in Surrey.

They stole a cash box from a security van outside the HSBC bank in Banbury Road, Summertown, in November 2006.

In total, the south London gang is estimated to have stolen £500,000.

Their 18-month spree was brought to a dramatic end when a police marksman shot dead ringleader Mark Nunes, 35, and accomplice Andrew Markland, 36, during a foiled raid in Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, last year.

Getaway driver Terence Wallace, 26, and another gang member, Adrian Johnson, 28, received the longest of the sentences of 17 years each.

Leroy Wilkinson, 30, was jailed for 12 years, Leroy Hall and Leon McKenzie, 28, both got seven years, Brian Henry, 32, received six-and-a-half years and Victor Iniodu five years.

Wallace, Johnson, Wilkinson and Iniodu had been found guilty of conspiracy to rob following a seven-week trial at Kingston Crown Court.

The other three pleaded guilty to being part of the gang before the trial began.