A terrified cashier was taken hostage and frogmarched down the street during a bank raid in Faringdon, writes Roseena Parveen.

The woman, in her 20s, was forced to hand over cash after the robber strolled into Barclays in Southampton Street yesterday morning.

The drama began at 10am when the lone raider, who claimed he was armed, started chatting to the teller before handing her a note demanding money.

The raider, in his 40s, pushed two bags across the counter and claimed one had a gun in it. He used the second to stash the undisclosed sum of money.

He then forced the woman to walk out of the bank with him, marching her across Market Place, past the Faringdon Hotel and towards All Saints Church before ordering her to run back to the bank as he fled down Church Street.

Police were today appealing for witnesses, in particular a postman who they believe saw the robber and his hostage in the street. Det Insp Chris Hand said: "There has never been an armed robbery in Faringdon before. We are very concerned about someone doing this on his own. There's every possibility he could be a local man."

Barclays spokesman Yasmin Choudhury confirmed there was no CCTV equipment installed at the branch. There was only one customer there at the time.

The bank, which was closed yesterday for staff to be offered trauma counselling, was expected to re-open today.

Townspeople were shocked by the incident. Claire Allen, a barmaid at The Old Crown Coaching Inn opposite the bank, said: "I was walking to work at that time, I'm surprised I didn't see the robber. No-one saw or heard a thing. It's really quite frightening."

Flower-stall holder Gillian Sainsbury said: "I didn't see anything at all. It's really shocking There were quite a few people around at the time. I can't believe no-one saw anything."

The robber was clean-shaven, and had brown hair with signs of greying. He wore tinted metal framed glasses, black jeans, a fine ribbed cord blue shirt and a black bomber-style jacket with an orange lining, black slip-on shoes and white socks.

Anyone with information should call police on 01235 556863.