ARMED raiders escaped with a small amount of cash following an armed robbery on the Bank of Ireland in Dunleer on Friday afternoon.

Two men wearing balaclavas smashed their way into the back of the bank and held up the shocked staff just as the premises was closing for the weekend.

After the pair jumped into a waiting vehicle, metal spikes were thrown onto the Barn Road as the patrol car from Dunleer chased the suspects.

Both of its front tyres and a number of civilian vehicles were damaged by the twisted pieces of metal which were scattered all over the road.

Superintendent Gerry Smith stated that at 4.10pm, a dark coloured Toyota Carina drove into the bank car park at the building's rear.

The two occupants who were hooded and wearing high visibility vests, got out and smashed the rear window with a concrete block.

They put a chain around the security bars, tied it onto the Carina's tow-bar and pulled the bars out of the wall. They climbed into the premises through the broken window.

One of them who appeared to be carrying a hand gun, demanded money.

Reports that 15,000 was stolen was described as 'probably too high', according to informed sources.

The gang set fire to the Carina and the flames spread to another car parked beside it.

Within minutes, the two men left the bank via the smashed window and ran round the side of the building.

On Dunleer's Main Street, they jumped into a red Audi A4 estate with a Northern Ireland registration number YF 55 GWW.

Its driver, who was also wearing a balaclava left the scene at high speed in the direction of Clogherhead.

The red Audi was later found burnt out at Dillonstown Community Centre.

Drogheda gardaí are appealing for anyone who was in Dunleer between 3pm and 4.15pm and may have seen the occupants of the Carina or the red Audi to come forward.

- Christine DOHERTY