Police are hunting three masked men who targeted a bank armed with a sledgehammer and a handgun.

Two of the men, who were carrying the weapons, demanded money from security guards delivering a case containing cash at Santander in Commercial Street, Brighouse.

The suspect with the sledge hammer then attacked a cash machine at the bank.

The pair made off down Commercial Street in a waiting silver-coloured Ford Mondeo, driven by the third man, with a substantial amount of cash.

The three men, who were wearing balaclavas, arrived in the same vehicle, from the direction of Briggate.

The first suspect, who was carrying the handgun, was described as a white male, 5ft 10in and of slight to medium build. He was wearing a dark hooded waterproof jacket with the hood up. He also had on black woollen gloves, combat trousers and spoke with a Yorkshire or Lancashire, accent.

The second suspect who was carrying the sledgehammer was 5ft 10in or 11in and of slim to medium build. He was also wearing a dark-coloured top with the hood up, gloves, blue jeans and white trainers with stripes on. He spoke in a similar accent to the first suspect.

Officers are particularly interested in information about the whereabouts and movements of the Mondeo.

They would also like to speak to two potential witnesses, one them in a small car, who might have seen the suspects as they recklessly overtook their vehicle in Bethel Street.

The second witness is believed to be the driver of a vehicle which the driver of the Mondeo allowed to travel out of Park Street as the incident was taking place.

Anyone with information about the incident, which occurred shortly after 7pm last night, should contact Calderdale CID on 0845 6060606.