A TEENAGER has spoken of the terrifying moment a man waving a gun burst into a bank and threatened a terrified cashier.

The 16-year-old was standing at the counter when the gunman pushed her and a friend aside before pointing the gun at the teller and demanding cash.

The girl and her friend were drawing out money for a shopping trip when the raid at the Halifax bank in Darwen happened.

She said: "We were being served when we saw a man come towards us from behind. He pushed in between us and said 'Excuse me, ladies' and I thought it was just an aggressive customer.

"But then he pulled out the gun and shouted 'Money now'. I thought 'Oh my God we're being robbed. I was next to him as he pointed the gun at the cashier and kept asking for money. I was petrified."

The friend managed to walk slowly out of the office out of sight of the gunman and beckoned the girl to get out of the bank.

She said: "I was too frightened to move in case he turn around and see me. I didn't want to annoy him.

"He was concentrating on the cashier and I managed to slowly inch my way out backwards. I kept watching him closely all the time."

The 58-year-old cashier, who was also shaken by the incident, activated a panic alarm and the gunman fled empty handed.

The two girls ran to a nearby business and raised the alarm and the business owner rang the police and gave the girls a glass of water.

The 16-year-old said: "That's when the panic set in. We were shaking and crying and worried in case he might have seen us run out.

"We've both still shaken up knowing that he's not been caught."

Police are still appealing for witnesses to the incident which happened in Borough Road around 2.30pm on Monday.

The man is described as 6ft tall, with short hair, broad build, wearing a two-tone baseball cap with a dark peak and designer label on the forehead part, a blue-hooded tracksuit top with three yellow stripes down the sleeve and a motif on the left breast, a light-coloured T-shirt underneath and jeans.

It is believed the man ran off to the right towards Darwen Leisure Centre.

DC Scott Waddington of Darwen CID said: "We're very grateful to the girl for her bravery. We are keen to speak to anybody fitting the description or anybody who can identify him from the description"

The businessman gave the girls glasses of water until their parents came and the police took statements.

Contact Darwen CID on 01254 353841 or 353842.