POLICE say an armed raid on a Preston post office may be linked to similar attacks in Lancaster and Heysham.

In the attack, a postmaster was held at gun-point for nearly an hour before robbers escaped with a haul of cash, stamps and postal orders.

Two men burst into the Cattle Market Post Office in Norris Street, Preston, at around 5pm on Monday.

One produced a handgun and demanded to be let into the rear of the shop where they held the 27-year-old Asian postmaster at gun-point for 50 minutes. Armed police were quickly on the scene, and officers searched alleyways off Norris Street, near Plungington Road.

A spokesman for Post Office Ltd said: "We are cooperating with the police. Perhaps the only good news is nobody was injured."

One of the robbers was in his late twenties, 6ft tall, of medium build, slim face and slightly tanned. He was wearing a black woollen ski hat, blue adidas tracksuit and white trainers.

The second was around 5ft 8ins to 5ft 9ins tall, with a medium build and a round face. He was wearing a hip-length black bubble jacket, blue jeans, black Kickers or Rockport style boots, and a grey baseball cap.

They were carrying one small handgun.

DI Joe Kellett said: "We are liaising with Lancaster CID to examine the possibility that a January raid in Lancaster and a similar attack in Heysham in April may be linked to this incident." To help call Preston police on 203203.