A REWARD was posted yesterday to help catch armed robbers who snatched tens of thousands of pounds in a bank raid.

The £15,000 sum will be paid to anyone supplying information which leads to the arrest of the gang who struck at Lloyds/TSB branch in Consett, County Durham, on Thursday, December 18.

The three raiders wearing balaclava masks struck shortly after closing time at 5pm, ordering seven members of staff and a female customer at gun-point into two holding areas inside the bank.

They grabbed a six-figure sum from the bank's vaults before forcing a staff member, also at gun-point, to open atm cash machines, which were then stripped of more money.

The raiders fled in a dark saloon-type car at the back of the Sherburn Terrace premises, possibly driven by a fourth gang member.

Police said the car's registration carried an old-style W prefix and possibly contained the letters M, N and L.

One of the men was described as 5ft 8in, of heavy build, and in his late 30s and was wearing a dark coat and trainers with white flashings.

A second man was about 6ft, of athletic build, aged between 30 to 35, with dark hair and was wearing a dark hooded jacket and blue trainers with white flashings.

The third man was about 6ft, in his early to mid-30s, and was also described as athletically-built, with a broad chest.

He had dark brown hair and was wearing a black hooded jacket, with black trainers, and white flashings.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room, on 0191-375 2430, or call the Crimestoppers' line anonymously, on (0800) 555111.