A POST office worker was seriously injured in an attack by robbers armed with a machete and a baseball bat.

Mr Gulam Ahmed was badly cut by two masked men at his Moss Bridge sub-post office, Blackburn Road, Darwen, at noon yesterday while his family were in a back room.

Detective Sergeant Paul Murphy, of Blackburn CID, said the robbers threatened Mr Ahmed and hit him on the shoulder with the machete before fleeing with a substantial amount of cash.

They are believed to have used a Vauxhall Astra as a get-away car. It was found burning in a nearby alley only minutes later.

The police helicopter and dog handlers were called to search the area while officers made house-to-house enquiries. The car is being examined by forensic scientists.

DS Murphy said: "One man was arrested and another man is being sought. We are appealing for witnesses who saw anything suspicious either yesterday or at any time during the previous week."

Mr Ahmed was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary where he was due to undergo surgery. His condition was today said to be comfortable. Mr Ahmed's family were too upset to talk about the incident. Mrs Shenak Sheikh, who runs a nearby general store, said she had at first thought the post office alarm had gone off by accident. She said: "The police were here straight away. There isn't a police station near here and sometimes I'm afraid to be alone."

A 22-year-old Blackburn man was detained at Blackburn police station to await questioning.

The post office was also raided in September 1998, when three men armed with hammers threatened Mr Ahmed's daughter Arefa Ahmed and her brother Akil.

The pair handed over a substantial amount of cash. Passers-by chased the raiders, who fled in a BMW.

A police dog-handler's vehicle on the way to the scene of the raid was involved in a collision with a black Hackney cab and a Toyota Carina at the junction of Jubilee Street.

Taxi driver, Mohammed Rehmet, 49, of Shaw Street, Blackburn, was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary with a hand injury. Toyota driver, Mohammed Aslem, 51, of Cromwell Close, Blackburn, and passengers Farhat Aslem, 21, and Salma Aslem, 11, were also taken to hospital with minor injuries. Police driver, PC John Gallagher, was unhurt.

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