Have-a-go hero, 79, beaten up

The 79-year-old have-a-go hero was caught up in the robbery at Heights Lane Post Office in Heaton at 9.30am after a shop assistant had had a knife held to her throat.

It was the second armed raid on a Bradford post office within 24 hours.

The pensioner was taken to hospital for treatment after being assaulted when he tried to stop the robber who was armed with a knife.

And yesterday a terrified cashier at East Bierley Post Office handed over £4,000 after she was threatened with a gun.

Police said a gang of three masked men entered the sub-post office in South View Road at 9.40am, one carrying what was believed to have been a single-barrelled shotgun, the second carrying a sledgehammer and the third a baseball bat or pick-axe handle.

And in today's Heaton attack a knifeman burst into the premises and demanded cash.

Detective Sergeant Neil Benstead, of Bradford North Police, said: "The suspect, who was Asian and wearing a balaclava, threatened two members of staff and took an amount of money."

He said an Asian accomplice waited outside in a dark coloured BMW 318.

"As the first suspect left the post office he was confronted by a 79-year-old local man who was assaulted and thrown to the ground," said Det Sgt Benstead.

He said the victim was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary but had not suffered any knife wounds. The two robbers escaped in the car.

The terrified owner of Heaton Post Office, Amjad Ditta, said he was upstairs at the time of the raid and heard screams.

The 32-year-old said: "The shop assistant Debbie had been held at knife point and my sister Shabana who was working in the post office part of the shop was told to hand over all the money. They threatened to kill Debbie if the money wasn't handed over.

"Debbie had already pressed the panic button and the police arrived quickly in about ten to 15 minutes. It was terrifying. I think there was one customer in the shop at the time and he was injured but I don't know the details.

"We are shocked. I have had this business for four years and nothing like this has ever happened before."

Crowds gathered outside the shop and the area was cordoned off. Blood was visible on the pavement.

Allah Ditta, father of Amjad and who arrived at the scene later, said the incident was a shock for everyone.

One by-stander said: "I was driving past and I heard screams. I parked up and a large crowd had gathered."

Det Sgt Benstead said: "We would appeal to anyone who witnessed this nasty incident, or who has any information, to contact us immediately."

In East Bierley, one raider tried to get into the staff section of the post office by smashing through a screen. The screen was left badly dented, but held.

He then threatened a member of staff with the gun and she pushed a bundle of bank notes over the counter.

The trio ran from the post office and made off in a stolen green Ford Scorpio, registration K112 KWR. It was later found abandoned in the Odsal area. The cashier was uninjured, but very shaken.

The man carrying the sledgehammer was described as white, 6ft tall, wearing a full black face mask, with holes for the eyes and mouth and dressed all in black.

The men carrying the baseball bat and gun were described as white, 5ft 8in or 5ft 9in tall, both wearing black balaclava-type face masks and black clothing.

Bradford North CID can be contacted on (01274) 376059, Dewsbury CID is on (01924) 431134 or Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555 111.