Police are hunting an armed robber who they suspect struck twice within an hour.

Two men were held at gunpoint in separate attacks in Paisley and Bridge of Weir on Wednesday night, with both victims relieved of cash and personal possessions.

Detectives cannot confirm that the crimes were linked but descriptions of the suspects were almost identical.

Both victims, men aged 31 and 32, described the suspect as between 18 and 22 years old, approximately 5ft 9in-5ft 10in in height, of slim build, gaunt appearance and with clean- shaven features.

The victims agreed the robber was wearing a dark, hooded top, but one believed he had seen light-coloured trousers while the other remembered dark trousers.

The first incident occurred at 9.45pm, when a man brandishing what appeared to be a firearm demanded money from his victim in New Sneddon Street, Paisley. He fled with the cash in the direction of Wallace Street.

In the second robbery, which took place outside the Bank of Scotland in Main Street, Bridge of Weir at 10.30pm, the victim was also threatened with a gun and forced to hand over cash and valuables.

The suspect made off along Bridge of Weir Road towards Kilmacolm. No firearm was fired in either incident but both victims were left severely shaken by the experience.

Detective Constable Mark Gilmour of Strathclyde Police said: "We are not ruling out the possibility that the same person might be responsible for both incidents.

"I would urge anyone who may have witnessed either of the robberies to come forward as a matter of urgency."