A SECURITY guard was beaten and shots were fired during a violent post office raid on Tuesday (April 4).

The 48-year-old Royal Mail guard was taken to Crumpsall Hospital for treatment to a shoulder injury, bruising and shock after the robbery at Park Lane Post Office in Whitefield.

Four men, armed with a shotgun, two handguns and a sledgehammer, made off with around £12,000 in cash.

According to detectives, the masked raiders pulled up outside the post office in a red Rascal van which had been stolen from the Bolton area the previous Friday.

They jumped out of the vehicle and attacked the guard, knocking him to the ground. Two of the raiders then stormed into the post office and threatened two women staff before smashing a security screen and grabbing the cash.

The two women were later treated for shock.

The thieves ran around the back of the shop where they jumped into a waiting car.

Eye-witnesses told how they heard screaming and then shots being fired during the robbery.

Mr Gerald Backman, who owns a nearby delicatessen, said: "I heard gun shots. People were running around and shouting. I saw one of the men jump on the van that was parked outside the post office. "It is a terrible to thing to happen on your doorstep."

A shocked second witness, Mrs Jayne Goldberg, who works near the post office, dialled 999 after she heard shouts and guns being fired.

She said: "I did not see anything but I could hear screaming and shots being fired. It was very frightening."

Whitefield police quickly sealed off the area, pictured following the raid, and are now appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Detective Inspector Jane Antrobus, who is leading the hunt for the armed gang, said: "This was a very violent robbery.

"A weapon was discharged during the course of the raid although, fortunately, no one was shot.

"The guard is currently in Crumpsall Hospital receiving treatment for injuries caused when he was hit on the head by one of the attackers."

Anyone who can help police with their investigations is asked to contact Whitefield CID on 0161 856 8214 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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