THREE armed men are on the run after a robbery at a TSB bank which left four women injured.

The masked men seized cash and injured the women before driving over footpaths on a residential estate near a primary school in Horden, County Durham, this morning.

Armed with what is believed to be crowbars and a wooden stick, they struck at the TSB on Blackhills Road at about 10.45am.

Durham Police said two female members of staff were injured during the incident and treated for minor injuries by ambulance crews at the scene. Two female members of the public were also injured but did not require treatment.

The getaway car, a silver Ford Mondeo, was driven near Cotsford Infant School before it was found alight nearby and flames spread to the garden of a family home.

Staff at the school locked the gates and kept children indoors due to the high level of police activity in area.

Police, ambulance and fire were called to the scene.

A helicopter scoured the area from above and crime scene investigators studied the burnt out car and the back streets around the bank for clues to help them catch those behind the robbery.

The raid has left people who live and work in the area stunned.

Marco Rigali, who works at Regal Print opposite the bank, said: “Nothing like this has ever happened before.

“It is nasty for the people who have been assaulted. It is big news for a small village like this.”

He said it was believed that a passing police officer was alerted to the incident and raised the alarm.

June Dunnette, 34, a volunteer at the Horden Hospice shop, said: “I was a bit scared and wanted to shut the shop.

“It is horrible and worrying.”

The Northern Echo:

SCARED: June Dunnette, who works at Horden Hospice shop. Picture by Gavin Havery

Builder Brian Tate was on his way to work at the property on the Cotsford Park Estate as the Mondeo crashed into the fence after careering through footpaths and grassed play areas.

Mr Tate arrived as the car was in flames.

He said: “I saw the police cars all over. The smoke was 20 foot high so I phoned the fire brigade but they had already been called.

“The fence was all burned and there was nothing that could be done.”

Mr Tate built the decking and garden area, which was partially destroyed by the fire.

The Northern Echo:

RUINED: Brian Tate in the family garden damaged by the fire. Picture by Gavin Havery

Home-owner Deborah Kennedy, 34, who lives there with her husband Maurice and her eight-year-old daughter Autumn, said: “They have come up through the back paths and people tend to walk their dogs in that area

“There is a quite a bit damage but it is the garden so it is not important. Nobody was hurt and that is the main thing. I am a bit chewed, but it can all be fixed.”

The Northern Echo:

REMAINS: The burnt out getaway car seen through the remains of the fence. Picture by Gavin Havery

A major police investigation is underway but at this stage no arrests have been made.

Inspector Steve Thubron said: “Thankfully incidents of this nature are rare in our force area and the public can rest assured we are doing all we can to find those responsible.”

TSB closed the premises yesterday and advised customers its nearest branch is at 22 Woods Terrace, Murton, County Durham, SR7 9AG.

A spokesman for TSB said, “We can confirm that there was an incident at our branch in Horden.

“The police arrived at the scene very quickly and we are working closely with them as the investigation continues. We are grateful for their support and that of the public.”

A police helicopter, nine police cars, ambulances and fire engines were spotted at the scene.

Pictures were posted by locals on Facebook.

Residents report hearing an explosion and then seeing the silver car embedded in a fence.

"My mam rang me to say there was a lot of police cars heading down to our estate so I got ready ran out of the house and heard the car," one resident told The Northern Echo. "I ran towards the field where it had stopped and that's when the explosion happened, I thought it had been a bomb at first but when I got round the corner I could see it was a car in the alleyway.

"It'd either been set on fire or caught fire when they've crashed it.

"The guys in the car went down the alley in the opposite direction."