A CUSTOMER in a town centre building society was threatened by a thief armed with a gun, in an attack echoing an earlier raid on a building society in the same street.

The robber went into the Britannia Building Society in Clifton Street, Blackpool, at 1.40pm on Monday.

The man grabbed an elderly female customer, pointed a hand gun at her and demanded cash. A cashier handed over a quantity of cash, believed to be several hundred pounds, before he made off. Nobody was hurt.

A spokesman for Britannia Building Society said: "We are cooperating with the police and don't wish to comment further."

Police described the man as white, around 5ft 5ins tall, slim and between 40 and 50 years old with grey hair and thin features.

He was wearing glasses, a dark coloured baseball cap, a hooded anorak with blue jeans and black shoes. He was carrying a black bag over one shoulder.

The police are looking at a possible connection between the raid and another robbery on August 8 at the Marsden Building Society -- just 100 yards away.

The police spokesman said: "It is believed due to the person being of similar height and age and with one or two other similar features that there is a possibility that they may be linked." Anyone with information should contact police on 293933 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.