POLICE are hunting a gang who raided the Black Horse Post Office in Cronton yesterday afteroon (Tuesday).

Witnesses report seeing at least two men fleeing the scene carrying cash covered in red dye after an anti-theft device exploded during the robbery.

Up to half a dozen police cars from first Cheshire Police and then Merseyside arrived at the scene shorty after terrified staff raised the alarm at around 3.45pm.

The post office in Cronton Road, just over the Halton border in Knowsley, was immediately cordonned off as forensic officers searched for clues.

Today a sign in the window said the much-used branch was closed due to 'unforseen circumstances'. No staff members are understood to have been physically harmed during the raid.

One Cronton resident last night said she had heard that a silver car had screeched to a halt close to the post office and two young lads had run inside to emerge a few moments later carrying cash.

A stone wall in front of a row of village houses is stained with red dye where the robbers are believed to have dropped some of the money.

Another resident today said he had heard a commotion outside when the police arrived and expressed sympathy with the owners who, he said, have already been hit twice by raiders this year, including once in the last month.

A police car was seen patrolling the area today and another was stationed off the roundabout where Cronton Lane meets Lunts Heath and Birchfield Road.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police confirmed a robbery had taken place at the Black Horse post office but said detectives in the robbery unit were not yet ready to release any details.