An Off duty Garda has foiled a cash in transit robbery in Ratoath in Co Meath.

Shortly after midday yesterday a man collecting cash at a shopping centre was approached by a man brandishing what appeared to be a firearm.

The man, demanded the cash box and left the scene in a grey Renault Kangoo van driven by a second man.

An off duty Garda followed them into a nearby housing estate where he boxed the van in with his own car.

The suspects got out of the van and pointed the firearm at the unarmed Garda. Following a brief standoff they dropped the weapon and the cash box and ran.

During a follow-up search of a house at Streamstown in Ratoath, items of black clothing, which Gardaí believe are associated with the robbery, were recovered.

No arrests have been made and Gardaí are appealing for witnesses.