TWO men clad in ski masks and brandishing a shotgun burst into a Rixton post office on Tuesday afternoon and stole an amount of cash.

The pair struck at around 10.45am at Hollinfare Post Office on School Lane.

They walked in and threatened the postmistress and a female customer in the shop with the gun and demanded cash, which was handed over, then made their escape in a silver Land Rover Discovery which was waiting outside.

A third man had driven the car across the fields at the rear of the shop and had waited in the vehicle while the robbery took place. The robbers escaped by driving back across the field in the direction of Dam Lane.

The Land Rover was dumped in the car park of Ye Olde Red Lion pub in Hollins Green and police want to speak to anyone who saw the car before the robbery or spotted it being dumped in the car park at around 11.15am.

The two raiders are both white, aged 18-20, of medium build, 5ft 10in tall, and were both wearing full-face, black ski masks and dark clothing.

Any witnesses to the raid, or anyone with information on the three men or the car, can contact police on 652222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.