A GETAWAY car used by a gang who fled with thousands of pounds from a Hampshire bank raid was seen prowling around nearby just days before, police say.

A G4S courier delivering to the Chandler's Ford HSBC was targeted just days after an inquest into two robbers shot dead by police at the same branch.

Today detectives are following a line of inquiry that the Silver Volvo S40 the gang fled in and then abandoned less than half a mile away had been cruising the streets in the weeks leading up to the raid.

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Matt Taylor said: “We know from the information we have already gathered as part of our investigation that the Volvo used in this robbery had been in the Chandler's Ford area for the past couple of weeks and we want to hear from anyone who remembers seeing it.

“Anyone who thinks they have seen it in the area over the past fortnight or so should please get in contact with us.

“We don't know why the car was in the area for such a long time before the robbery but this is part of our investigation.”

The registration number is W307 VGN. Detectives are tightlipped about whether they have traced the owner.

Despite apparently not being armed the raider jumped into the Volvo, which had been waiting outside the Winchester Road bank and police believe it contained two or three other people.

The car was dumped less than half a mile away in Shaftsbury Avenue, with an emptied money box inside. It is unclear whether they changed into another car or escaped on foot.

Det Sgt Taylor added: “We are also still appealing for any witnesses to the robbery itself and anyone who saw the men make off or what happened to them after they dumped the car.”

The raid followed in the wake of an inquest which found police marksmen lawfully shot dead armed raiders, Mark Nunes, 35, and Andrew Markland, 36, when they tried to rob a G4S courier in September 2007.

Anyone with information about the raid can call Eastleigh Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.