A masked would-be robber burst into a post office with a weapon before leaving empty-handed after staff reacted quickly.

The armed man went into Hindley Road Post Office in Daisy Hill this morning, Thursday.

But workers sensed danger and pressed the silent alarm, causing the suspect to flee, and police quickly arrived. 

No one was hurt and no items were stolen in the attack. 

At around 5pm today, a crime scene investigation van was outside the post office as police carried out their work. 

A worker at the store said: "It happened this morning (Thursday), it was an attempted robbery.

"Nothing was stolen and they were caught on the cameras.

"I pressed the silent alarm and then they ran away.

"The police came within 10 minutes.

"Just got to be on guard with these things. Even at home you have got to be.

"But no one was harmed, and as long as no one is harmed that is the main thing."

The employee at the post office said that the attempted robbery was carried out by one man.

He said the man was holding a weapon that looked like a gun, potentially an imitation firearm.

He added: "A CSI officer came recently to check for fingerprints."

A resident said: "Quite a few police cars turned up, around three or four.

"We were just working at home and we heard the alarm go off and saw the police. Then the police came and asked us if we had seen anything.

"We didn't see anything out of the ordinary."

Another resident said: "I saw the police and went round to make sure they were okay, that's when I heard it had been an attempted armed robbery."

Greater Manchester Police has been contacted for comment. 

If you have any information contact police on 101 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.