Armed robbers brought terror to the streets of Carnforth during a daring daylight bank robbery on Tuesday morning.

Barclays Bank, on Market Street corner, was targeted by masked raiders, two of whom smashed their way into the bank through a window while the others kept watch armed with guns.

Detective Inspector Neil Esseen, of Lancashire Constabulary, is anxious to apprehend them: "We need to find the men because they are dangerous. They were armed and showed a total disregard for the bank staff, who they threatened in the most terrifying way."

The manager of the branch, who was subjected to an assault during the raid, was taken to hospital and received treatment for bruises and shock.

The drama unfolded at 9.25am shortly before the bank was due to open when a blue Alfa Romeo car screeched to a halt outside the bank on the New Street side of the building.

Two men headed for the front door of the bank armed with guns while the other two stood on the roof of the car and hurled a beer barrel through the window above the cashpoint.

A member of staff at the Royal Station Hotel, directly opposite the bank, was alerted by the sound of breaking glass. "I was watching from the bar and saw two men climbing in through a window and the other two were standing in the doorway shouting at people to keep away," she said.

She also confirmed that the bank had received a delivery from a security van only ten minutes earlier.

Workers at Ratcliffe and Bibby Estate Agents, next door to the bank, heard the commotion and initially thought it was a road rage incident until they heard raised voices from the building, shouting "shut up and stop crying".

By now a large crowd had gathered on the other side of the road and the shopkeepers on Market Street acted quickly, ushering people into their shops to keep them away from the armed men who were becoming increasingly agitated.

A woman working in the Co-op Pharmacy just two doors up from the bank praised the courage of a van driver who was making a delivery at Greggs bakery at the time: "He was really brave and ran up and down the street diverting people away from the incident," she said.

Meanwhile, the robbers were throwing bags out of the window and eventually after 15 minutes, emerged from the front door and jumped in the getaway car, making off up Market Street.

The police arrived around 15 minutes later and a police helicopter from Lancashire was scrambled to search for the men.

The car, which had been stolen from Northwich, Cheshire, was found abandoned in Queens Drive near to junction 35 of the M6 and police want to speak to anyone who may have seen the robbers switch vehicles.

The bank reopened on Wednesday afternoon and Chris Martindale, Barclays regional communications manager, condemned the "traumatic" attack on staff and said that they were all receiving counselling to come to terms with the incident.

Anybody with information is asked to contact police at Lancaster on 01524-63333.