Two bank attacks that saw the bomb disposal squad descend on Bucks twice in a week are believed to be linked, police have confirmed. 

Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal officers from the Royal Logistics Corps based at RAF Northolt were called out to Barclays Bank in Station Approach, Gerrards Cross, on Wednesday last week. 

Days later, on Saturday, they returned to Bucks - this time to Penn Road in Beaconsfield, after a cashpoint at Nationwide was blown up

Police say three people were seen on CCTV at 4.22am in Beaconsfield, before leaving at 4.31am. 

Although they caused "considerable damage" to the cashpoint, they did not managed to get away with any money. 

The busy road was cordoned off for a number of hours while a bomb disposal robot and ordnance disposal officers checked there were no explosives remained at the scene. 

Officers say the first attacker was dressed all in black with a hooded top with the hood up and brown shoes, the second wearing a dark blue hooded top with the hood up, dark trousers and white shoes and the third wearing a dark hooded top with the hood up, blue trousers or jeans and white shoes.

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Dan McKenzie, of the Investigation Hub based at Amersham, said: "They made a significant attempt on the cash machine, causing considerable damage.

“This incident caused a lot of disruption to the town centre on Saturday, and I am appealing to anybody with information to contact us.

“We believe this offence is linked to a recent similar incident in Gerrards Cross, and so I am urging anybody who has any information to please report it to us.

“Likewise, if anybody was in the area of The Broadway at around 4.30am and witnessed any unusual activity, or who has dash-cam footage, please get in touch.

“I would like to re-assure the public that the swift actions of emergency services meant that there was no wider threat, and the closure was the town centre was in place to allow us to ensure that the area was safe.

“I would like to thank the people of Beaconsfield for their patience on Saturday while this incident was dealt with.”

If you have any information, call the 24-hour non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 43190034620.

Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or make a report online.