DETECTIVES are continuing their hunt for armed robbers who struck at a Bury post office this week.

They got away with a substantial amount of money after smashing a security screen at Chesham Post Office in the town's Walmersley Road at 11.15am on Monday (Nov 15).

Later, four people were treated in hospital for shock.

Now, police want to talk to anyone who witnessed the raid or who saw the three men transfer into a second car after abandoning their getaway vehicle.

The drama began after a post office security van, containing two guards, drew up outside the post office to make a cash delivery.

As one of the guards left the premises, he was confronted by two men, brandishing a shotgun and sledgehammer, who had emerged from a Suzuki Vitara vehicle.

The guard was challenged and had the shotgun pressed into his stomach. When he told the balaclava-clad raiders there was no money, he was bundled back into the post office which contained customers and two staff.

Then, the man wielding the sledgehammer smashed the security screen, vaulted over the counter and grabbed two cash bags.

During the attack, a female customer had the shotgun put to her face and threatened when she attempted to challenge the thugs.

Police say the two raiders fled the premises, leaving behind the Vitara, and boarded a blue Honda Accord car, driven by a third man who was also wearing a black balaclava.

This vehicle was later abandoned in Duckworth Street, Bury, where the trio were seen to get into another car, red in colour.

Detectives say both recovered vehicles had been stolen earlier from Little Lever and Whitefield.

One of the raiders is described as white, 5ft 9inch tall with short cropped dark hair, medium build and wearing blue jeans, dark blue or black fleece jacket, black balaclava and gloves. The second raider was of mixed race, same height and also with short cropped dark hair. He was thin with a spotty complexion and also wore a dark balaclava and gloves.

Staff at the Co-op Late Shop next door said a woman, who apparently left the post office as the raiders entered, helped raise the alarm.

"We didn't really see anything, only the men running out and getting into a car," said one of the staff.

Other workers in neighbouring shops said they were unaware of the raid until it was over.

The post office is run by Mr Tony and Dorothy Smith, who declined to comment on the incident.

Shortly after the robbery, a Post Office employee emerged from the premises to tell the Bury Times they could not comment on the raid.

And the Post Office is not divulging the amount of cash stolen.

Meanwhile, anyone with information is asked to ring Bury police crime management unit on 856 8157 or freephone CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.

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