CURLED up in his van, this security guard looks not to have a care in the world.

Apparently asleep and certainly relaxed, he obviously thinks he’s safe and secure in the G4S – formerly known as Group Four – van parked outside the Bridge Street branch of NatWest in Banbury town centre.

But he was spotted by amused shoppers and Oxford Mail advertising worker Steve Nowell, who captured the moment on his mobile phone camera.

Mr Nowell said the guard was fast asleep for about 10 minutes with the key in the ignition.

He added: “I thought it was pretty bad. The back doors were ajar on the van.”

G4S has conducted a full investigation into the incident, but denies the back doors were left open.

Mr Nowell added: “He was alone in the van and he was in the passenger seat, absolutely spark out.

“It was busy and people were walking past. They all thought it was rather amusing.

“The engine was running so the keys must have been in the van.

“I was waiting outside the estate agent and he was flat out there for about 10 minutes.”

The incident occurred at about 2.40pm on Wednesday, April 15.

Mr Nowell said he did not see any other security guard during the time he took the pictures.

A spokesman for G4S Cash Services: “We can confirm that a full investigation has been conducted into this matter. The crew member was on an official break, and remained on board the vehicle during this time.

“G4S vehicles are equipped with state-of-the-art security features, some of which draw power from the running engine. Consequently, we can confirm that the vehicle and its contents were completely secure at all times.

“The onboard data indicates that all systems were fully functioning and there is no evidence that the service door to the vehicle was open.”

Asked whether the security guard was alone, the spokesman replied: “He was part of a two-man crew. The other member of the crew was obviously outside the vehicle at the time.”

In January 2007, G4S was criticised after a lone security guard turned his back on thousands of pounds of cash in Oxford’s Cornmarket Street.

Justin Walden, of Hurst Street, East Oxford, snapped pictures on his mobile phone of the worker searching around his van as bags of £1 and 50p coins lay unprotected in the busy pedestrian street.

At the time Mr Walden said: “I couldn’t believe my eyes and, I must admit, assumed it was a wind-up to see if anyone would grab the cash.”

tairs@oxfordmail.co.uk