A gang of armed robbers whose spree included a raid on an Oxford bank have been jailed for more than 70 years at court today.

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

One of their raids was the robbery of a cash box from a security van outside HSBC in Banbury Road, Oxford, in November 2006.

In total, the south London gang is estimated to have stolen half a million pounds.

Their 18-month spree was brought to a dramatic end when a police marksman shot ringleader Mark Nunes, 35, and accomplice Andrew Markland, 36, dead 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 apiece.

Leroy Wilkinson, 30, received 12 years, Leroy Hall and Leon McKenzie, 28, both received seven years, Brian Henry, 32, received six-and-a-half years and Victor Iniodu received 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 Nunes' gang before the trial began.