THESE are the pictures police hope will lead them to the armed robber dubbed the bike bandit, who has held up a bank and a building society in Southampton.

The audacious robber has terrified staff into handing over thousands of pounds at gunpoint before escaping on a bicycle.

The new photos have been gathered from CCTV inside and surrounding the two financial institutions the robber targeted.

They show him strolling around a supermarket and outside the Nationwide Building Society in Portswood Road moments before he struck, stealing £4,000 on February 19.

Some of the pictures show him without his face covered and officers are hoping someone will be able to identify him.

In the second robbery exactly a week later on February 26 at 4.50pm he went in to the Abbey Bank in Bitterne Precinct and again threatened staff with a gun before escaping with about £1,000, some of which he dropped on his way out.

In both cases the robber had a very similar description and disguised himself with a scarf over his face while in the buildings.

He is said to be around 6ftand with a thin face and pointy nose.

He rode to and away from each robbery on a bicycle.

Detectives believe it was the same man who committed both robberies and hope by releasing these new CCTV stills someone may be able to identify him.

Anyone who has any information about the robberies or who thinks they know who the man is can contact the Operation Vivid team at Bitterne CID on 0845 045 45 45 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.