Police are studying two sets of CCTV footage after an armed bank raid and the robbery of a cash-and-carry customer in Oxford.

Both incidents happened within 15 minutes of each other but police have not said whether they were linked.

The robbery happened after a man left the Booker discount warehouse, on the Osney Mead industrial estate, off Ferry Hinksey Road, at 10.45am yesterday.

Just 15 minutes later, armed robbers stole a substantial amount of cash from the NatWest bank in Cornmarket Street.

Armed police were drafted in to search for the robbers.

The victim was attacked, in his car, at the junction of Ferry Hinksey Road and Botley Road.

Two men smashed a rear window of his car and took a quantity of cigarettes.

A third man remained at the wheel of a light-coloured Saab saloon, which drove off along Botley Road.

The man, who was badly shaken but unharmed, rang the police and returned to the Booker store.

Manager Ivor Williams then played a CCTV tape to police. Footage on the tape showed the robbers following their victim from the car park.

The CCTV cameras were installed after several incidents of thieves preying on vehicles left unattended by customers to the discount store.

Mr Williams said there had been a similar robbery of a customer's car at the same junction about a year ago.

He added: "It's the second time this type of thing has happened. There's only one road on and off this estate

"We have had had quite a few thefts from vehicles in the car park."

During the NatWest raid, the robber said he had a gun and threatened staff before escaping with a four-figure sum of money.

No-one was injured, and armed police began an immediate search, helped by the police helicopter.

CCTV images of the man have been recovered from the bank and police hope they may identify the robber.

He is described as white, above 6ft 2in tall, of medium build, and in his late 20s or early 30s.

He was wearing a long, dark woollen overcoat and a Russian-style hat.

Police have warned members of the public not to approach the man.

A NatWest spokesman said anyone with information may be entitled to a reward of up to £10,000.

Anyone with information can call Oxford CID on 01865 266333, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

In a separate incident, an Oxford man in his 50s has been arrested in connection with an attempted robbery at the travel agents, Going Places, in Cowley, yesterday afternoon.

Police have released no further details.