Gardaí in Gorey is investigating an attack on a man collecting cash from the Permanent TSB bank in a failed robbery attempt in the town this morning.

The alarm was raised at 10.15 when a cash in transit van parked up outside of the Permanent TSB on the Main Street and forced a person to hand over a box he was carrying.

The man felt something in his back, but Gardaí said afterwards that there is no evidence of a firearm being used.

While the attacker may have thought he had snatched an amount of cash, in fact, he fled with an empty box.

The incident was witnessed by the man’s colleague, the driver of the cash security vehicle.

The street was also very busy at the time.

Gardaí are asking people to help them with enquires, particularly anyone who may have noticed a black Honda Accord with a Dublin registration, parked in John Street, which was used as the get-away vehicle.

This car was found a short time later abandoned off the Arklow Road, a few miles from the town.

A technical examination is being carried out on the scene.