A ROBBER struck at a Cwmbran bank yesterday, demanding cash from tellers as shocked customers looked on.

Police say the robber struck in the Barclays bank in Gwent Square at around 11.30am yesterday.

Bank staff handed cash over and the man made off through the shopping centre. Police said no weapons were seen.

Marion Watts, 75, from Blackwood, was in the bank at the time of the raid with her sister Nettie Jones, 71, from Newbridge. The pair were shopping in Cwmbran and had stopped to get some money from the bank.

Mrs Watts said her sister was queuing for a cashier and she was sat down when she heard a man shouting "put it all in the bag."

She could not see him as he was out of sight and said there were about a dozen customers in there as well as staff and an employee told people they needed to get out of the branch.

Mrs Watts said: "I think I was too shocked to think much at the time, we couldn't believe it. Thinking back it's quite terrifying, you don't expect things like that happening where you live."

Gwent Police did not have a figure for the amount taken.

Officers say they believe the man was working alone and was familiar with the town.

The bank was cordoned off yesterday afternoon with police on guard as scenes of crime officers scoured the branch for clues.

Workers in and around Gwent Square told the Argus about their reaction to the robbery.

Jacqueline Owen, 47, from Coed-Eva, a sales assistant in nearby Select, said: "It's shocking, I've worked in Cwmbran ever since I was 16."

Christine Bielski, who was working in Beanfreaks at the time of the robbery, said: "I was amazed - it was a shock because you don't expect it to happen this close to you."

A Barclays spokeswoman said they are working with police and will re-open the branch as soon as possible.

No-one was injured in the robbery and anyone with information is asked to call Gwent Police on 01633 838 111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.