A quick-thinking bank manager saved bank staff from being held hostage by armed robbers.

The woman, identified locally as Rita, arrived at Barclays Bank, in Yorick Road, West Mersea, with two other women at about 8.25am yesterday.

She went in alone to carry out the usual safety procedures and was accosted by two masked men armed with a gun.

Apparently they held a gun to her head and ordered her to call the other two staff members inside.

Daniel Sutton, owner of the butcher Arthur Cock & Son, said he saw the first police car screech to a halt outside the bank, and two more quickly followed.

Armed police jumped out and positioned themselves around the entrance to the bank.

The Strood was initially closed while officers attempted to hunt down the robbers.

It was reopened late morning, but uniformed officers were searching every vehicle leaving the island in an attempt to track down the masked men.

Police investigating the armed robbery are trying to track down a silver car thought to be the getaway vehicle.

Police believe the two robbers stole the five-door Ford Fiesta, registration YT52 MXZ, from near the bank and used it to flee the area.

Anyone with any information about the robbery or the stolen Fiesta is asked to contact detectives at Colchester CID on 0300 333 4444, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

See today's Gazette for the full story.