A SECURITY guard was beaten over the head with his own helmet when a gang of robbers pounced outside a post office.

Three men attacked the man as he was delivering cash to the Ainsworth village branch at 2.10pm on Tuesday.

They ripped off his helmet and smashed it over his head as he lay on the ground.

As the attack continued, the raiders forced a second guard inside the van to hand over a security box which is believed to have contained £10,000.

The men escaped in a red Mazda which was being driven by a fourth man.

The car, which had been reported stolen, was found abandoned in Stonedelph Close a short time later.

The security guard, who is 32-years-old, was taken to Fairfield General Hospital for treatment for cuts and bruises. He was not seriously injured.