HE is thought to be one of the country's most dangerous armed robbers.

Haik Madoyan is believed to have carried out more than 30 hold-ups at gunpoint, including a terrifying raid at a shop in Southampton.

Today the manhunt for the 35-year-old was due to go nationwide as an appeal to find the illegal immigrant who has netted more than £220,000 from his robberies is televised.

Madoyan has spent the past three years targeting foreign exchange and travel agents across 21 forces in England and Wales, each time armed with a gun.

It was on May 17 last year when Madoyan was said to have struck at The Money Shop in Hanover Buildings, Southampton.

With a small black handgun concealed up his sleeve a man walked in and then brandished the weapon at the cashier, passed her a string bag, and demanded cash.

The quick-thinking worker managed to flee from the front office of the store and hit the security alarm, which frightened the would-be robber into running away.

Detectives believe he fled on foot towards Above Bar Street in the direction of the Bargate shortly after the incident around 1.30pm.

Madoyan came to the UK in 2001 claiming asylum status but his plea was rejected in 2003, although he remained in the country.

Members of the public are being urged not to approach him because of fears he may be armed.

Using aliases including Hayk Matoyan, Martin Fisnar and Hamid Riza, Madoyan is a former karate coach with the Armenian karate team and is from Yerevan in Armenia.

With a tanned or Mediterranean complexion, he is around 5ft 6in to 5ft 7in and of a stocky/overweight build. He has short, dark receding hair and a scar on the left-hand side of his face. His speech is heavily accented.

Madoyan is particularly distinctive because of his right eye which police believe is a prosthetic replacement after he lost his eye during military service in his native homeland in 1992. As a result of his injuries his left eye can appear watery.

DI Andy Price, leading the investigation by West Murcia police called Operation Coast, said: "These robberies are believed to have been carried out by one man. I would like to speak to Madoyan in connection with these offences and would ask anyone who knows his whereabouts to contact police immediately. I would strongly advise members of the public not to approach this individual due to the nature of the crimes he is wanted in connection with, but call the police if they see him."

Anyone with information on Madoyan, who will be featured on tonight's BBC Crime-watch programme, is urged to call police on 08457 444 888 or Crime-stoppers on 0800 555 111.

West Mercia police will be staffing a dedicated call centre for information as a result of the programme. Staff will be on hand to take calls from 8pm to midnight. The contact number for the call centre is 01905 453 611.