Police scale down Rhallt fugitive search

One man was apprehended by a police dog and taken into custody after a dramatic chase across farmland but the remaining two evaded up to 30 police officers using search dogs and a helicopter.

The search focused on a wooded gully at the top of the Rhallt but as light faded, headquarters at Carmarthen made the call for one last sweep before scaling down.

The drama started at noon today when Barclays Bank in Machynlleth was raided and three men made off in a BMW before switching to a Mercedes. That car was spotted by police who gave chase across Montgomeryshire before the raiders fled on foot after ditching the vehicle at the Flash.

By 3.30pm the search had centred on the Rhallt and the three were soon spotted and officers gave chase, capturing one of Asian appearance with the use of a dog. A second breakthrough followed with the apparent recovery of at least some of the cash in woodland close by.

But the remaining two white men appear to have slipped through the net which consisted of officers from Welshpool, Newtown, Llanidloes, Aberystwyth, West Mercia and North Wales Police.

Dyfed-Powys Police have asked the public to remain vigilant and to call 999 immediately is someone is acting suspicious.