ROBBERS attacked a building society customer during the second violent raid in two days in Bradford.

Police described the raid, which left a man needing hospital treatment, as “distressing”.

Detectives are now trying to trace the offenders, who struck at the Yorkshire Building Society branch in Towngate, Wyke, at about 10.30am yesterday.

Two hooded men walked in and threatened both customers and staff before demanding cash.

Staff activated the branch’s security system, understood to be a ‘bandit screen’, and the robbers fled empty handed.

But during the confrontation a male customer was sprayed in the face with a noxious substance, which is still to be identified. He needed hospital treatment but was discharged later on the same day.

Detective Sergeant Tim Lofthouse, of Bradford District CID, said: Clearly this was a very distressing incident for the man who was sprayed and for the staff and other members of the public involved.

“The area would have been very busy at the time and I would appeal for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact us.”

The previous day another member of the public was also threatened by an armed raider, who used a hammer to threaten her during a wages snatch outside Eco Glass’s premises in Hillam Road, off Canal Road.

She was unharmed during the ordeal but believed she was about to be hit as the raider tried to smash a car window and caused other damage to the vehicle.

A large quantity of cash was taken in that raid, which is still being investigated.