Published Tuesday, 03 July 2012
Police are attending the scene where an attempted robbery has taken place. (© PA)
The gunman entered the bank in the Upper Square area and threatened staff at about 10.50am on Tuesday, before making off with a cash-box.
Local Sinn Féin councillor Stephen Burns witnessed the incident as it took place.
"Police have recovered one of the cash-boxes, which had smoke coming out of it, so it must have been alarmed and set off - so it sounds like they didn't get away with anything," he told U105's Frank Mitchell.
"But still shocking nevertheless."
The councillor said that police were at the scene.
"They are swamping the area, so we're quite hopeful that someone will be apprehended for this as quickly as possible," he added.
The PSNI are appealing for anyone with information relating to the incident or anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area of the Drumee Estate to contact detectives in Downpatrick.