AN armed man demanded money from staff at a solicitors firm after he ran into their offices.
The man ran into Close Thornton Solicitors, in Duke Street, Darlington, at about 12.45pm yesterday.
The attacker, who was carrying a metal bar, told staff to open the safe.
When he was told there was no safe, he demanded that staff hand over their handbags.
But one female worker ran out to raise the alarm, and the man panicked and ran out.
He was chased out by another staff member.
He ran off down Duke Street, on to Saltyard before grabbing a bike to ride away on.
Chris Wiper, one of the partners at the firm, said: "One of my members of staff who was in the office came out and saw what was happening.
"Then they guy fled. One of the male members of staff gave pursuit."
DC Sharon Spooner, from Darlington CID, said the man was wearing a black balaclava and a blue, oily boiler suit.
He was white,about 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in, and stocky.
Anybody with any information is asked to contact Darlington Police on 0845 60 60 365.
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