A MASKED gang set off an explosion in a post office before escaping with thousands of pounds.

Four men wearing balaclavas had blown through a wall at the Little Harwood shop and broke into the cash machine.

Officers said that the men were seen driving away in a 62-plate dark Volkswagen Golf towards Whalley Old Road at speed in the direction of Rydal Road at around 2.45am yesterday.

The police helicopter was used to search for the vehicle but it had not been found last night.

A number of residents were woken by the sound of an explosion.

They said they felt ‘unsafe’ and ‘on edge’, particularly following a spate of car break-ins in the area.

Lloyd Grogan, 49, of St Stephen’s Avenue, said: “I saw them running off with two large cash boxes and they loaded them into cars by the bus stop.

“I could hear them saying ‘hurry up, hurry up’ before they drove away at high speed with the tyres screeching.

“There has been a spate of damage to cars on my street recently with windows being smashed. I thought my car was being broken into.

“A loud crash woke me up and there were three of four of us watching.”

A staff member at the nearby Premier convenience store said he was scared someone was breaking into his store.

He said: “It was a very loud noise and I was sleeping, so I got up to look out the window thinking someone was breaking into my shop.

“You do not expect things to happen like this, I didn’t dare go out they could have had anything with them.

“It really is getting worse around here.”

Musa Sidat, who works in a hardware store opposite the Post Office in Whalley Old Road, said: “I got up straight away when I heard the sound of breaking glass, it really frightened me.

“There are people out all the time around hear making noise late at night, it’s a real problem at the moment and I do feel unsafe around here.

“I think it is vital that people up their security as much as possible.”

The Post Office is expected to remain shut while an investigation is carried out.

The owner said he was ‘heartbroken’ when he found out about the attack, which was the first he had experienced in 13 years.

He said: “I do not know what is going on in the world and I don’t know why anyone would want to do this, it’s just cheap little thrills.

“It is heartbreaking and I’m afraid the Post Office will be shut until the investigation in completed.”

DS Adrian McHugh said: “This investigation is still in its early stage, however we can say it was a planned, targeted attack.

“We are still actively looking for the four men involved and the vehicle which was used.”

Anyone with information is being urged to contact police on 101 quoting incident reference 157 of July 22.