A £5,000 REWARD has been put up to catch the three men who robbed a Securicor van in Winton on Monday night.

Three robbers armed with baseball bats attacked Securicor officers as they entered Abbey National Bank in Wimborne Road at around 7pm.

The attackers forced the couriers on to the floor of the bank.

One of security guards was assaulted in the attack and was taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital with head injuries. He was released late on Monday night following treatment.

The raiders fled with a quantity of cash in a dark Vauxhall car that had been parked in Crimea Road and was later found burnt out in the St Albans Avenue area of Charminster.

A Securicor spokesman said yesterday: "We can confirm that there was an attack on one of our couriers in Wimborne Road.

"Securicor deplores such incidents and is doing everything possible to assist the police with their enquiries.

"The safety of our staff and the public is of paramount importance and, as such, we are offering a £5,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the attack."

Det Sgt Craig Travers from Bournemouth CID said: "This was a serious offence and the Securicor officer was unnecessarily assaulted.

"He had eight stitches in his head and was left severely traumatised."

Police are still searching for the weapons used in the attack.

Police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident - including potential witnesses who were passing on a red Wilts and Dorset bus that was travelling from Moordown towards Bournemouth at 7pm.

Witnesses are asked to call Bournemouth CID on 01202 552099 or the Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.