When Father Christmas strolled into the bank holding a sack, customers thought they might be in for a few surprise presents.
But this sinister Santa felt it was better to receive than give - whipping out a gun and demanding cash.
The 6ft robber, pictured left on CCTV, escaped with an undisclosed sum after claiming he needed the money because he had to pay his elves.
Just in case anyone was worried, however, that the real Father Christmas had turned criminal, his getaway vehicle proved to be a grey car rather than a sleigh pulled by reindeer.
The bank robber said that he needed the money 'to pay his elves'
Despite being armed with a gun, witnesses said that the robber was actually quite jovial as he made off with the loot
