Security guards were threatened with sledgehammers and a crowbar during an armed robbery at a bank in Brighouse.

The two guards were filling cash machines at the Santander Bank, in Commercial Street, when they were attacked by two masked men.

The robbers threatened them with the weapons and smashed the glass in the bank’s door.

They grabbed a cash box, believed to contain about £12,000, from one of the guards and unsuccessfully attempted to smash their way through security shutters to the cash machines.

The raiders then fled on foot to a waiting silver BMW car which had two other men inside.

The car, which had the false registration plates A15 PJT, sped off the wrong way down the one-way Commercial Street, in the direction of Huddersfield Road. Police are still seeking the getaway vehicle.

The robbery happened at 7.50pm on Thursday. Detectives will study CCTV footage from the bank and around the town centre to try to identify the culprits.

Detective Inspector Tony Nicholson, of Calderdale CID, said it was fortunate that no-one had been injured in the robbery.

He said: “Serious threats were made to the guards, and violence used against the bank itself, which shows how desperate these robbers were.”

“We are grateful nobody was injured and would ask anyone who has any information about this incident to come forward.”

The first suspect is described as 5ft 10in to 6ft tall and was wearing a black cloth bag over his head with eye holes cut out. The second is described as white, about 5ft 8in tall, stocky, and wearing a cream balaclava.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact Halifax CID on 0845 6060606, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.