Gorseinon bank robbers 'came through ceiling'

Two men brandishing machetes are being hunted after robbing a high street bank.

Armed officers, police dogs and a helicopter responded to the armed robbery on High Street in Gorseinon, Swansea, just after 10:00 GMT.

Witnesses reported that the robbers "came through the ceiling" and held a member of staff by the throat.

South Wales Police said nobody was hurt during the incident.

Pregnant Megan Steele had walked into the bank for some change. The hairdresser said she first thought it was a joke.

"Then I've seen the knife and I thought 'oh my God'," she said, before running from the scene.

Boyfriend Corey Osmond said: "They came through the ceiling with machetes with leopard print gear on and with tights on their heads, demanding money.

"They had a girl from Lloyds by the throat. After robbing the bank they used a car to drive off," he told BBC Wales.

A section of High Street was closed while forensic inquiries were carried out

Ashley Smith, who owns Custom Vapers next door, said a woman who worked at the bank ran into his shop.

"She was shaken up and asked to use phone to call the police as there has been a robbery.

"She said that two guys had tights on their heads and machetes."

"It's a massive shock that something like this has happened - Gorseinon isn't the kind of place you would think that an armed bank robbery would take place - and in broad daylight," he added.

A police spokesperson said: "Two men dressed in blue overalls with their faces covered reportedly entered the building brandishing weapons shortly after 10:00.

"Armed police were deployed alongside divisional officers, the dog unit and the police helicopter, however the suspects had fled the scene prior to police arrival."

The nearby Penyrheol primary school was on "lockdown" following the robbery, it announced in a tweet.

Lloyds Bank officials said they were assisting police with their inquiries.

Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.