SHOPPERS are being asked to hand back cash that was thrown on to the street by a robber who had stolen it from a bank moments earlier.

Police are urging the public to do the right thing and return the notes that were flung into the air by the robber, who had just staged a raid at a Barclays Bank branch in Winchester.

After threatening staff by claiming that he had a weapon, he fled with £1,600 – but just minutes later bizarrely threw it all away.

Police are appealing for the public to return the cash, but just £300 has so far been recovered.

The man, who yesterday evening was still being interviewed by detectives, stole the money from the branch in Jewry Street at about 10.20am. He threatened staff – telling them that he was armed – before walking 50 yards away and throwing the money away.

Det Insp Andy Symes, of Winchester police, appealed for the return of the money.

He said: “I’m hopeful some members of the public will do the decent thing but in all honesty I can’t see much more as a result of this appeal.”

Describing the act as “bizarre” and “unplanned”, he added: “A man entered the bank and threatened staff into giving him approximately £1,600 in cash. He claimed he was armed, but a subsequent search after arrest proved that he had no weapon on him.”

Police still have no idea what prompted the man to throw away the money.

Det Insp Symes added: “The man left the bank, and a short time later threw the money into the street for reasons we have yet to establish.

“We would ask any members of the public who have found money in Jewry Street – or surrounding streets – to please hand the money into their nearest police station, as this money is evidence in our investigation.

“We would like to thank the members of the public who have already come forward and handed in money they have found to us.

“This was understandably upsetting for the people in the bank at the time, but this kind of incident is thankfully very rare, and in this case a man was arrested quickly and nobody was harmed.”

On Jewry Street yesterday afternoon there was no sign of any cash still lying around but shoppers were keeping an eye out.

Cai Shorman, 21, said: “Something like this doesn’t generally happen in Winchester, it’s quite a sleepy town. Knowing where it came from I would have handed the money back or maybe reported it to the police.”

Any money found should be handed in to a police station.

Witnesses to the robbery are asked to contact Winchester police station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.