TWO men attempted to steal cash from a bank in a violent robbery in East Finchley last month.

The two men were inside the NatWest bank in High Road at around 3.40pm on Thursday, June 25 when a guard from a cash-in-transit van came in with a bag full of money.

As he was placing the bag in a cash box drum the suspects ran at him, attacked him and tried to grab the money.

The guard turned the drum quickly so the money could not be accessed, and the suspects fled empty handed.

They were seen running left into Beresford Road and police have appealed for witnesses to the robbery.

The first suspect is a black man aged between 20 and 30, wearing a white polo shirt, brown or khaki trousers and white trainers.

He was also wearing a dark coloured hat with a flap that covered his neck.

The second suspect is a black man, a similar age, wearing a grey polo shirt with a red and white horizontal stripe across it, a dark coloured baseball hat and white sunglasses.

DC Dawn Bolitho, of Finchley Flying Squad, said: "The High Street would have been very busy at the time and I am keen to speak to anyone who may have seen the suspects in the area before or after the incident, particularly anyone who may have seen two men of this description in Beresford Road or the surrounding area afterwards."

Anyone with information can call the incident room on 020 8358 1751 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.