A woman customer was taken hostage during an armed robbery at a bank in north Wales.

The woman in her 50s was sitting on a chair near the door of the National Westminster Bank at Shotton when the raiders burst in.

They grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and dragged her to the counter in front of startled customers.

The terrified woman had a gun pointed at her head as the raiders demanded cash.

A cashier pressed the alarm bell before handing over what police have described as "significant amount of money."

Armed police

The hostage was then released and the two men ran out of the bank with their haul.

Armed police are currently in the Deeside area looking for those responsible.

The drama happened shortly before GMT 1400 on Tuesday.

North Wales Police, who have launched an inquiry said the hostage, from the Broughton area, was left severely shaken by the incident.

'Devastated'

The man leading the hunt, Detective Chief Inspector Don Cronin, called it an extremely vicious and nasty robbery.

He said the hostage had been sitting in the bank waiting for a friend to finish her transaction.

"She is utterely devastated and has had to be treated by her doctor," he said.

DCI Cronin issued an urgent appeal for witnesses to come forward.

One of the robbers is said to be 6ft tall with fair hair, blue eyes and he was wearing a bomber cap, bomber jacket and jeans.

The second was 5ft 6ins tall and was wearing black Puffa jacket, blue jeans and white trainers.

Police say two men have been arrested and are currently being held at Mold police station. Inquiries are continuing.