THREE masked raiders brandishing a sawn-off shotgun and a sledgehammer escaped with a haul of cash after a raid at Little Lever Post Office.

The robbery is the latest in a spate of raids on the Market Street sub post office - and happened on the same day two men were jailed following a raid on the same post office last year.

Detectives are also probing possible links between yesterday's raid and a robbery at the post office in November 1997. They believe the same gang may be involved.

The three men burst into the post office at 11.15am yesterday shortly after a cash delivery by a security firm.

One of the thugs grabbed a cash box from a security guard on the pavement outside the premises before running inside the post office. They threatened two women cashiers and a postmaster before smashing a security screen with a sledgehammer.

The thugs then escaped in a stolen white Vauxahall Senator getaway car driven by a fourth man. The car was stolen from the Heaton area of Bolton last Thursday. They blocked the security van - to prevent it from following them - by leaving a Nissan van parked in front. The van was stolen from Ramsbottom on Sunday.

Police later discovered a cash box thrown out of the getaway vehicle by the thieves in Stopes Road. The box had in fact contained no money.

The getaway car used by the thieves was found abandoned later yesterday in Knowles Street, Radcliffe. Detectives want to speak to anyone who may have seen the raiders switching to another car in the Knowles Street area about 11.30am yesterday.

Det Chief Insp John Tyrer of Bolton CID said: "The men involved in this robbery only escaped with a nominal amount of cash. It was a determined raid which caused great distress to the postmaster and his cashiers.

"We desperately want to speak to anyone who may have seen these men before or after the robbery when they abandoned the getaway car and made their escape."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Farnworth CID on the hotline number 0161 856 5853. All calls will be treated in confidence.

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