POLICE investigating a raid on a Hampshire bank this morning have ruled out any link with a previous raid at the same branch that resulted in the death of two armed robbers.

Police today sealed off the shopping centre in Chandler's Ford following the raid on a courier who was delivering money to HSBC in Winchester Road at around 9.42am.

A man wearing a balaclava ran up to a G4S courier delivering an undisclosed amount of cash to the bank and demanded he hand it over.

No weapon or threat was used but police believe the box was placed on the ground before it was taken by the robber who escaped in a waiting silver car.

Police found the vehicle, a silver Volvo S40, abandoned less than half a mile away in Shaftesbury Avenue, off Chalvington Road.

The money box had been emptied but police do not yet know how much money was inside.

Officers have ruled out any link between this morning's raid and the previous robbery in September 2007, when Mark Nunes, 35, and Andrew Markland, 36 were shot dead by police marksmen.

Nunes had ran towards a G4S security guard and pointed a loaded 9mm handgun at his head outside HSBC. Accomplice Markland was shot when he ran across the road and picked up the gun.

An inquest jury has recently ruled that the robbers were lawfully killed.

Speaking at the scene of the raid Chief inspector Mark Emery from Eastleigh police said: "We do not believe that this incident is linked to the one that happened four years ago.

"It would be very unhelpful to make those assumptions and we firmly do not believe that the two incidents are linked."

He said the investigation was now focusing on the getaway car which was a silver Volvo S40 reg W307 VGN .

He said: "We believe there were two to three people in the vehicle and we would like to hear from anyone who can assist us with who the occupants were."

It is unclear at the moment whether the raiders transferred to another vehicle which had mad off from the scene along Bournemouth Road turning off into Chalvington Road and being dumped in Shaftsbury Avenue.

Acting Inspector Emery said the security guard had suffered a traumatic experience although he told police he was not threatened with a weapon or saw a weapon.

"There was a demand the money container was placed on the floor I believe there was no threat or weapon produced."

The bank and the vehicle used in this morning's robbery have been sealed off while officers collect forensic evidence.

Anyone with information about the raid should call Eastleigh Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.