TWO couples suffered a terrifying ordeal early yesterday after robbers forced their way into a house and fired a gun to back up their demands for money.

The hold-up happened after midnight in a small cul-de-sac in New Farm Loch, on the outskirts of Kilmarnock.

The householders and another couple were in the house in Sinclair Court when the two male attackers burst in, demanding money before discharging the gun.

The men fled from the house with a handbag containing a three-figure sum and were seen getting into a blue hatchback type vehicle in Kennedy Drive nearby before driving off.

Police said no-one was injured as a result of the gun being fired, but a 46-year-old woman and a 49-year-old man received minor injuries during the incident. The man was taken to Crosshouse Hospital but was released after treatment.

The suspects were described as both being of medium build and 5ft 7in and 5ft 8in in height respectively. They were wearing camouflage clothing and ski masks.

Detective Sergeant Ian Rule of Kilmarnock CID, said: "This was a violent attack and a terrifying experience for those involved. Fortunately, no-one was seriously injured."

He appealed to anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in the area of Sinclair Court, or anyone who may have seen the men or the blue vehicle in Kennedy Drive, to contact the police.

A neighbour said: "This looks like the work of amateurs. It is mainly ordinary people who live around here. I don't think anyone would have enough money to make it worthwhile for professionals to stage something like this."

The raid was the first of two armed robberies being investigated by Strathclyde Police yesterday. The second took place at the Airdrie Savings Bank in Muirhead when two men, one believed to be armed, entered around 11am and threatened the staff. They demanded money and escaped with a sum thought to be in five figures.

The suspects are believed to have made off in a car towards Glasgow. One was described as 6ft, of slim build, wearing a green coloured parka with a fur hood and blue jeans.

The other was 5ft 7in, of stocky build, and wearing dark coloured clothing.

Detective Inspector Keith Webb said: "I would appeal to anyone who may have been in the area of the main street - Cumbernauld Road, Muirhead - during the course of the morning, prior to the robbery, or in the area of the bank at the time of the robbery who may have witnessed anyone matching the description of the suspects or anyone else acting suspiciously to contact the police."

The Muirhead branch has seven staff, and there was one customer inside when the raiders struck. No shots were fired and no-one was injured, but a bank spokesman said the staff were "pretty shaken."

Security within banks and building societies has deterred robbers sufficiently to make hold-ups comparatively rare.

However, yesterday's is the second in two weeks: the Clydesdale Bank in Milngavie was held up on October 11 by a lone gunman who escaped with thousands of pounds.