Police in Sydney’s north are hunting a gunman who attempted to rob a bank at North Ryde this morning.

Just after 9am today (Friday 18 May 2012), a masked man entered the bank on Coxs Road, North Ryde, and threatened staff with a firearm.

The man fled empty-handed a short time later and was last seen jumping a fence and running towards Cooney Street.

Police from Gladesville Local Area Command responded quickly to the incident and secured a crime scene, which will be examined by forensics officers.

Local detectives are speaking with witnesses as they continue their inquiries in a bid to identify and locate the offender.

The man’s been described as being 175cm tall with a thin to medium build

At the time of the incident, he was wearing a fluoro-yellow hooded jacket, grey tracksuit pants, white sneakers and dark-coloured gloves, and had a bandana concealing his face.