A KNIFEMAN threatened to kill a customer in a gang raid at a post office.

Three men ran into the Mosley Common shop at around 2.20pm last Friday. One of the robbers grabbed hold of a 61-year-old male customer and held a knife to his head.

The other two men, one armed with a pepper spray, tried to smash the glass counter screen and break down the reinforced door leading to the cash area of the post office. When they failed, one of the gang ran to the front door of the premises and shouted for the others to leave.

The knifeman grabbed hold of another customer, a 49-year-old Tyldesley woman, and threatened to kill her if the 51-year-old postmistress did not hand over cash.

A quantity of money was handed to the gang who fled in a stolen silver Volkswagen Golf which sped off towards Parr Brow and was discovered a short time later in fields behind MacDonald Avenue in Farnworth. A 14-year-old who was attempting to start the car was arrested on suspicion of theft.