A ROBBER is being hunted for stealing a five-figure sum in a daring daylight robbery on a security van.

The raider was believed to be lying in wait for the van to make its regular morning delivery to a Glasgow bank.

The thief struck outside the Royal Bank of Scotland in Shawland's Kilmarnock Road shortly before 10am today - just yards from a similar raid at the Bank of Scotland only weeks ago.

A man wearing a balaclava held up a security guard with a gun before making off in what's believed to be a silver getaway car.

Police were quickly on the scene and cordoned off the area.

It is the latest of a series of raids on cash machines in the west of Scotland in recent months.

One woman reported hearing a car screeching away from the scene and then the alarm being raised.

She said: "I saw the van parked outside the Clydesdale Bank which then moved on to the Royal Bank of Scotland.

"I think it must have pulled up behind a silver car and then moments later it was speeding off.

"Once police arrived I saw a security guard get out of the back of the van. He looked to be in shock and was very pale but I don't think he was injured."

The guard was treated at the scene for shock by paramedics and taken to Glasgow Victoria Infirmary for a precautionary check up.

It's thought the security van was towed away by police to undergo specialist forensic testing.

Officers were at the scene and were appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

Mum-of-three Sadeia Han, 37, lives directly above the bank.

She said: "My little boy was looking out of the window and saw lots of police. He ran through to tell me.

"It's very worrying to think we could have been out and about when something like this is happening on your doorstep."

The bank has been closed temporarily.