Death threats were made to Provident Life staff during a the robbery of a female collector by masked men at around 8.30pm on Monday night in the town.

The robbers, claiming to be from the Real IRA, targeted the collector in the Drumallagh estate, They got into the back of her car and warned her that if the company did not leave the town one of its collectors would be shot dead.

The victim, a part-time collector, was with her younger sister at the time and both women were badly shaken. The latest robbery was the second involving a Provident Life collector recently - a male collector was targeted in the Ballycolman estate almost three weeks ago.

Politicians in Strabane have demanded that the death threats against employees of the company - which has more than 750 clients on its books in the Strabane area - be lifted.

West Tyrone Sinn Fein MP and MLA, Pat Doherty said: "The victims of this obscene and sickening act have been left deeply traumatised and local Provident collectors are now deeply fearful for their safety.

"Whatever flag of convenience those behind these robberies and death threats may wish to ascribe to themselves no-one will be fooled in believing that this is anything other than clear cut gangsterism."

A PSNI spokesman appealed to local people for assistance. "These are not just offences against individuals or businesses, but against the very fabric of the local community."