Bank gunman holds customers and staff hostage in three-hour stand-off

Armed officers surrounded the branch in Ashford, west London, after a gunman entered shortly before 4pm yesterday.

Specialist negotiators were brought in as police evacuated the street, closing both it and a neighbouring road.

The incident came to an end shortly after 7pm with no shots believed to have been fired. A 30-year-old man was arrested.

A shocked customer said the armed raider had handed out boiler suits and paint cans to staff so they could spray the windows with black paint as the ordeal began.

Lianne Ralph, who was in the bank at the time, said the gunman said anyone with a heart condition should tell him and Ms Ralph said she was having an anxiety attack, so he let her go.

Witnesses outside described the tense drama as hostages were released in stages.

Liam James said the doors of the bank were slammed shut but about 15 minutes later a man came out with his hands on his head and was searched by police at gunpoint.

Around 30 minutes later, two other groups of people left the branch.

Witness Shane Berti told reporters: "The first thing we noticed was at 4.30pm when we heard a police helicopter overhead.

"We saw all these armed police just sitting in front of Barclays Bank behind their shields.

"I've seen two counts of hostages coming out of the front. They had their hands behind their backs being told to head up the road being escorted by the police."

Neil Mears, who works next door to the bank, said: "We saw two guys – who we think are the negotiators – and when the hostages were let out one of them said 'This is the time to put your gun down'."

Local businessman Neil Wood, owner of Ashford Glass, about 150 yards from the bank, said: "We understand that about 11 hostages were released earlier.

"They came out with their hands tied behind their backs – presumably they had been tied up by the raider."

Surrey Police confirmed the siege had come to an end and one man had been arrested.

Superintendent Duncan Greenhalgh said: "This was a fast-moving incident and police were on the scene within minutes.

"Trained hostage negotiators made contact with an individual inside the bank and just after 7pm a man came out of the bank and was contained by armed police.

"A man in his 30s has been arrested and is currently in police custody. All the people involved are being assessed by medical teams but there have been no serious injuries.

"This was obviously a very traumatic experience for those members of the public and bank staff caught up in it but I am extremely pleased with the quick and effective response from officers who brought this situation to a close without injury to anyone, including the suspect.

"I would like to thank the community of Ashford for their understanding ."