smoke drifted out the end of the gun that had just been fired.

Masked robbers had burst into the Bank of Bermuda Somerset branch and demanded cash. They took their loot as the bank teller lay in terror, before making her way to the relative safety of the back of the building. This was April 1998, and just one of three robberies of varying brutality to have hit Somerset Village over the past few years.

While the robbers were caught and put behind bars, the bank decided to look at security at this branch.

And in response the Bank of Bermuda closed the branch to undertake works to increase security last week.

Today when the bank re-opens, it may look the same from the outside, but inside the workers and customers will be safer from attack. Bulletproof windows have been installed and the vault has been moved to behind the teller area. The area in which video cameras cover inside the branch 24-hours a day, has been expanded to include areas behind and in front of the branch.

Danny Fox, senior vice president, of retail clients at the bank said: "The security and safety of the Bank's staff and customers are a primary concern.

As there have been three robberies in Somerset Village in recent years, we have taken a closer look at how we could improve security measures.