hold-up in which a shot was fired by a bandit shielded by a Halloween mask.

The lurking gunman blasted a bullet into the van after confronting the horrified driver outside a Heron Bay store.

His hooded accomplice then grabbed two bank bags from the vehicle.

The pair fled into the night, pursued part of the way by the courageous driver.

Yesterday a round-the-clock Police hunt continued amid appeals for public help.

A 20-strong team of officers has been formed, and a special incident room set up.

Masterminding the search are Detective Inspector Carlton Adams and Acting Inspector Eustace Farley.

The robbery -- believed to have been carefully organised -- occurred at around 11.45 p.m. on Friday.

The Safeguard Security van containing two officers pulled up outside The Heron Bay MarketPlace.

While one went inside the store, the driver was approached by the skulking gunman.

His face hidden by what appeared to be a Halloween mask, he pulled out a handgun and demanded money.

He then pulled the trigger. The bullet smacked into the van, but the driver was unhurt.

Meanwhile, the other crook seized the bags from the van. The pair escaped on foot.

They were last seen fleeing west along Middle Road, Southampton, with their haul, which is believed to amount to no more than $10,000.

It is thought they then ran along the Tribe Road near the Seventh-day Adventist Church, or along the railway trail near Colony Valley.

Police have appealed for witnesses and any information to help their inquiry.

Anyone who can help should contact the incident room immediately at 299-4294.

The robbers were between 5'6'' and 5' 8'', weighing roughly 150 or 160 pounds, of slim to medium build, and dressed casually.

Police spokeswoman Sgt. Andrea Browne said yesterday it is believed the robbery had been carefully planned.

"It is probable the men were lying in wait for the van,'' she said.

She urged anyone who saw two men acting suspiciously between 11 p.m. and midnight near the MarketPlace to get in touch.

Sgt. Browne said Police were not disclosing the names of the two security van personnel.

Former Policeman Mr. Paul Field, president of Safeguard Security Services Ltd., was last night reluctant to comment on the incident.

"It is a Police matter and I don't want to say anything which might interfere with their inquiry.'' "One of the men went inside to deal with a security-related matter -- I can't tell you what,'' he said.

Mr. Field said the two men bore up remarkably well to the ordeal.

"The driver even gave chase,'' he added.

Mr. Field said steps were being taken to tighten up security following the incident.