A MAN with a knife has demanded bank staff hand over cash.

Two banks on a Southampton high street are closed this afternoon after two different incidents.

Police were called at just before 2pm this afternoon to a report of a man with a knife demanding money in Santander Bank on Shirley Street.

Bank staff didn’t hand over any money and activated the emergency shutters. The man then ran off empty handed.

No one was injured and no one has been arrested at this time.

Police say that it's believed that the same man also went into Nationwide, but he did not commit the offence.

Both Santander and Nationwide are displaying signs warning the public that the branches are closed, but a police officer on the scene at Nationwide said that the two incidents were separate.

One shop worker nearby said: "A woman came in saying Santander had been robbed with a knife.

"I didn't hear any sirens or anything which surprised me."

Hampshire Constabulary has not said if the incidents are linked to the recent spate of robberies on shops and off-licences in Southampton and Eastleigh.