A WOULD-BE robber walked into a York bank today and told staff “I have a bomb” – sparking a full-scale 999 alert.

The man handed a note to a cashier at the High Ousegate branch of Santander saying he was armed with an explosive – before walking out empty-handed shortly afterwards, The Press understands.

Police said minutes after the incident – which was reported to York Police at 10.17am by a branch worker – a man handed himself into a police community support officer in the area confessing to the attempted armed robbery. He has since been arrested and is in police custody.

Nobody was injured in the incident.

The branch has now been shut to members of the public. A spokeswoman for the bank, who is diverting customers away, could not confirm when the bank would re-open.

A police spokesman said: "North Yorkshire Police received a call from staff at the High Ousegate branch of Santander at 10.17am following an attempted robbery at the bank. The man left the premises empty handed.

“A few minutes later a man approached a Police Community Support Officer in the city centre, claiming responsibility for the attempted robbery. “The 58-year-old local man has been arrested in connection with the incident and is currently in police custody.”