EXACTLY two weeks after armed robbers raided a Newport bank, detectives are hopeful a £50,000 reward for information will bring new leads.

Officers hunting the gang who brought terror to the city's streets say they have had an "excellent response" since the cash reward was announced on Thursday.

The robbers - believed to be three black men - stole "a substantial amount of cash" and shot a Securicor guard during the raid on the Halifax bank in Commercial Street on April 11, two weeks ago today.

Detective Superintendent Geoff Ronayne is leading the investigation. He said: "Since the reward was announced we have had an excellent response from the public, which is promising.

"But until officers have sifted through the information I do not know whether it will bring us any new lines of inquiry."

It comes as detectives investigate a possible link between the Newport incident and an armed robbery at a Worcestershire post office last week.

Det Supt Ronayne told the Argus his officers were liaising with their colleagues in the West Mercia force to establish whether the two events were linked.

Gwent detectives are also working with the Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire forces, as they believe the offenders may originate from the area.

Det Supt Ronayne said he is particularly keen to trace the car used in the Halifax robbery.

It is believed the Mitsubishi Evolution VIII car was originally stolen from the Birmingham area and could now be stored somewhere in South Wales.

A 23-year-old woman from the Loughborough area, arrested on Thursday on suspicion of assisting an offender in connection with the robbery, has been released without charge.

The 55-year-old guard who needed surgery after being shot in the thigh is now out of hospital and is said to be recovering well.

* Anyone with information about the incident should contact Gwent Police on 01633 838111 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.