A BUNGLED building society raid shocked Christmas shoppers in the centre of a North-East market town tonight.

A man who pounced on a security guard inside the Darlington Building Society branch in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, got away with nothing.

Police said he could have been given a coating of bright orange dye and may have been burned on the hand when an explosive security device in a cash box went off automatically.

The raid could have been captured on the branch's CCTV cameras and tapes were handed over to detectives from Bishop Auckland CID.

The man entered the branch at about 4.30pm, threatening the guard before taking the box and running off in the direction of Westgate Road.

He is described as in his late teens or early 20s, 5ft 10ins tall and of slim to medium build.

Customers in neighbouring shops said that police cars had swooped on the building society as the force helicopter arrived to search town centre streets.

One said: "We wondered what was happening. There were a lot of police around and they were going in and out of the building society."

A spokesperson for the building society said last night: "The police have our CCTV footage and we will assist them by every means possible in apprehending the offender.

"Our security measures worked well and no money was taken."

Police appealed for information. Telephone them on 0845-60-60-365 or call the confidential Crimestoppers line 0800-555-111.