A WEEKEND crime spree that included a terrifying bank robbery has led business chiefs to renew calls for the installation of CCTV cameras.

A robbery happened at the HSBC Bank, Packhorse Road, Gerrards Cross, on Friday at 4.20pm when a man arrived with a yellow plastic bag.

He demanded the cashier hand over money and then tried to smash the security screen with an object from the bag before fleeing with an undisclosed amount of cash down Ethorpe Road.

This incident was followed by a series of burglaries on shops in the village, including two on Saturday night or early Sunday morning at Cargo, a home furnishers in Packhorse Road, and GX Fast Photos, in Station Approach.

Local businessman Alan Sealy of the Janet Sealy Partnership, a communications company in Packhorse Road, has been campaigning for the installation of CCTV cameras in the village for more than six months.

He said: "It's clear to me that the level of crime in Gerrards Cross is going up and up and in my opinion this is caused by displacement, people coming here instead of other towns nearby because they have CCTV and we do not.

"I have come to the conclusion that if the council and police will not do anything, we need to fund this privately."

Terena Beale, 27, manager of the Cargo store, said: "Every shopping centre should have CCTV, if they want people to come and shop here they must prove it's safe to do so."

Alan Moore, vice-chairman of Gerrards Cross Parish Council, said: "We are trying to find out where funds can be obtained to install any cameras and to find out the likely running costs of any system.

"Cost is the really big issue here."

Following the bank robbery, police are searching for a white man in his 20s or 30s, about 5ft 9ins and of medium build.

He was wearing a distinctive hooded sports jacket, predominantly blue with two bright-yellow horizontal stripes at the bottom and a yellow stripe along the arms. He also wore blue jeans and brown shoes.

Police have appealed for witnesses, especially shoppers or shopkeepers in Packhorse Road who might recognise the man wearing the distinctive jacket.

DS John McKee said: "It is possible that shop staff or customers along Packhorse Road saw the man prior to him committing the offence. Perhaps he purchased something from a shop which was wrapped in a yellow bag."