Traders say they are terrified to walk the streets alone after two armed men attempted to raid a bank on Friday.

The pair targeted HSBC in Ealing Road, just before 11am, but left empty-handed after cashiers pressed the panic alarm.

Kaushal Patel, 31, a technician at RJ Pharmacy, which is near HSBC, said: “It’s scary to know this was on our doorstep. It has made me feel terrified to walk the streets alone, even in broad daylight.

“I am even frightened to be left working in the shop alone, because who knows who might come in?

“That’s not a normal way for a grown man to live. The robbery was a very cruel and frightening incident.”

Last May, burglars made off with millions of pounds worth of gold from Raj Unadkat's jewellery shop, Shyam, which is on the same stretch of road as HSBC.

The 60-year-old says that Friday’s incident has made him even more panicked about the location of the firm.

He said: "I will be taking extra security measures now that I know armed men could be at any corner on this street. I just feel very unsafe and it’s terrible that it’s come to that.”

He first opened his shop 25 years ago and says the area was the “safest place it could be”, but that has changed in the last four years.

He added: “This area is notoriously bad now, so I am not even surprised to hear there has been a bank robbery.”

Mr Mohammed, who works at the nearby Chicken Cottage, blamed the robbery on lack of security. The father-of-two said:

“They only targeted this area because they know there’s hardly any police around here and very little security.

“After hearing about the robbery I stopped letting my children go out by themselves, because when there are armed men walking around the streets it isn’t safe for anyone.

“The only good thing to come of this is that the police attended the scene, so the men made off with no money.”

After the incident, a spokesperson for HSBC said: “The welfare of our staff is paramount. If they are concerned in any shape or form, we have set up a facility for them to get help. "Our arms are around them to make sure they are okay.”