Bank robbers armed with a gun and machete have made off with £50,000 from a security van.

The armed gang targeted two G4S guards and van outside a Royal Bank of Scotland branch in Glasgow city centre on Monday night.

Police set up a cordon outside the bank on Sauchiehall Street on the corner of West Nile Street at around 9.50pm and launched a major hunt for the raiders.

A burnt out Seat Leon as well as an empty case have been recovered by officers on Scott Street in the city, less than a mile away from the scene of the robbery.

The two guards, aged 47 and 49, who were making a delivery to the RBS branch, were not injured in the incident and Sauchiehall Street reopened on Tuesday morning.

The three suspects got into the white Seat Leon getaway car which sped off along West Nile Street towards the Cowcaddens area before being burnt out then recovered by police near Stow College.

The car did a U-turn on West Nile Street, causing a cyclist to swerve out of the way. Officers are now urging this cyclist to contact them.

Officers are in the process of gathering CCTV footage for additional information on the incident and the suspects.

The suspects are described as wearing dark coloured clothing and had balaclavas on to conceal their identities. One of the men is described as having a local accent.

Detective Inspector Alasdair Barlow said: "We are reviewing CCTV images in and around the city centre.

"We would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or noticed the car, in particular the cyclist.

"As the car left the scene, it was being driven at speed so people may have noticed its excessive speed.

"Any information, no matter how irrelevant or insignificant it may seem, could prove vital in helping us progress our enquiries and I would urge people to get in touch with us and tell us what you saw or what you know."

Head of operational risk for G4S Cash Solutions, Gareth Skinner, said on Tuesday: "One of our cash crew members was the victim of an attack yesterday on Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, while servicing a local bank branch.

"Fortunately the crew member has not suffered any injuries but has been badly shaken by the attack.

"We are working closely with Police Scotland to ensure those behind the attack are brought to justice."