A failed bank-robber attempted to silently hold-up a Manchester bank by handing a note to cashier that read "This is a robbery".

According to Greater Manchester police the offender, with his face partially covered, walked into a Lloyds TSB on 15 December and queued alongside other customers.

Once he got to the front of the queue he handed the note to the cashier along with a bag for her to fill with money. The note read: ""This is a robbery, do not say or do anything! Fill the bag with £50 notes and £20 notes. I have a gun in my right arm! Hurry up."

Unfortunately for the prospective thief the cashier simply did not come back, so he left.

He is described as a white man, in his early 20s, of slim build and 6ft tall. He was wearing a black scarf that covered his face.

Detective Constable Keith Gibbs said: "This was a bizarre incident, but all that matters to us is that a man made threats to a member of staff at a busy bank and implied that he had a gun.

"We would urge anyone with information, or anyone who may recognise this man, to come forward."