AN ARMED robber made off with a substantial amount of money in a raid on the village post office at Barwick, near Yeovil, despite a brave attempt by a customer to apprehend the intruder.
The audacious raid took place shortly before noon on the morning of Saturday, December 22nd when the man, wearing a blue and white bandanna around his face to conceal his identity, burst into the post office and started waving a four-inch knife in the face of the sub-postmaster.
The intruder shouted at the post-master to fill a black zip-up bag with money.
A customer jumped on the robber and tried to overpower him with a bear hug but he was thrown to the floor.
The intruder then jumped over the counter, smashing a glass display unit and again threatened the postmaster, demanding money from the safe.
He filled the bag with bundles of bank notes and climbed back over the counter before running out of the shop and making his escape.
The postmaster and customer were unhurt but very shaken by the incident.
Police described the robber as being about six feet tall, in his mid-20s and of slim to average build with broad shoulders and short mousy brown hair.
He was wearing a dark blue or black baseball cap and a blue and white bandanna around his face. He was also dressed in a dark blue or black long-sleeved waist-length zip-up coat.
Anyone who saw the man enter or leaves the Barwick Post Office. or has any other information that could help police, are asked to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. All calls will be treated in strict confidence.