Police have admitted that they are struggling to cope with the flood of armed robberies in Coventry after a building society was hit in Earlsdon yesterday.

A raider escaped with several hundred pounds after claiming that he had a gun in a plastic bag and would shoot a customer unless he was given cash.

He queued up in the Coventry Building Society in Earlsdon Street at 11.10am and waited his turn to get to the counter.

When he got there he pushed one of his two plastic bags under the grille.

The other he kept below the counter and told the frightened cashier that he had a gun and would use it unless she gave him money.

After the cash was passed to him he walked out of the building.

Police say they have no sightings of him before or after the raid, and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

He is white, aged between 20 and 30, around 5ft 9ins and medium build. He was wearing a white shirt, a white baseball cap, which obscured his face, and beige jeans.

DC Tony Martin, who is investigating the crime, said the possibility of a link with three similar raids in Coventry last month is being considered.

He said CCTV footage was being studied to try and get a good sighting of the offender.

The other attacks were in Lloyds TSB branches in Riley Square, Bell Green and Far Gosford Street in Stoke and at the Coventry Building Society in Binley Road.

DC Martin said several Coventry detectives were currently working on murder cases in Birmingham, and officers were struggling to cope with the current surge in robberies.

He said: