A GANG of masked gunmen burst out of a city-centre cafe and dived into a getaway car on Saturday.

Passers-by looked stunned as the four figures, dressed from head to toe in black, dashed along Brighton’s London Road at about 9am.

But their shock was short-lived, thanks to the nearby cameraman and signs warning people about what was happening.

The raiders were in fact actors filming a promotional video for a new escape-room style attraction in a former bank vault behind the Presuming Ed Coffee House.

Escape the Vault co-founder Will Armstrong, 30, said: “I think quite a few people were pretty shocked to see what was going on at first and we had a lot of people taking photos of us from the bus.

“But we put signs up around to warn people what was going on and, because of the cameraman, I think people quickly realised nobody was actually being robbed.”

The group also sought permission from Sussex Police before filming.

Mr Armstrong said: “The space behind Presuming Ed’s used to be a cinema, and was originally a bank vault.

“We have turned it into an escape room because we thought, who doesn’t want to rob a bank?”

The video is due to be released on the attraction’s website in the next 10 days.

Mr Armstrong said: “The video is set in the Seventies with four guys doing a bank heist and running to a getaway car.”

The group paid close attention to detail, even hiring a retro car to jump into after their staged robbery.

Escape the Vault is open now, but will have an official launch party on April 25.

The theme of the party will be gangsters, thieves and robbers and guests will have the chance to compete against one-another in problem-solving challenges for a selection of prizes.

Players of the game get 40 minutes to complete a series of challenges which will allow them to escape from the old bank vault.

Mr Armstrong said the challenges were largely numbers-based, and the escape room was made to be accessible to all.

Visitors will also have their own getaway driver, Terrance, who they can call for help if they are struggling with any of the challenges.

Mr Armstrong said: “The idea is that it’s a bank heist format following the story of a main character.

“It’s got a Robin Hood feel, taking from the rich to give to the poor.

“In the story you steal from an evil businessman and then give to those who need it.”

Ten per cent of all ticket sales will go to charity.