BRAVE staff foiled an armed robbery attempt at a St Albans post office on Wednesday, August 13.

Police are now hunting for the two armed men who mounted the lunchtime raid on Fleetville Post Office in Hatfield Road.

The two men, dressed in motorcycle gear and crash helmets and brandishing guns, tried to rob the store but escaped without any money.

They fled without any shots being fired. One customer was in the store at the time and no-one was hurt.

Police are now appealing to the public to help them trace the offenders.

The incident happened when the pair entered the premises at about 1.40pm. One man had a sawn-off shotgun and his accomplice carried a handgun.

They threatened staff with the guns and demanded access to the secure area of the shop.

But a member of staff managed to set off the alarm and both offenders ran off into Woodstock Road South.

Aksam Aslam, 26, who has been postmaster for three years, said: "It was terrifying. Only myself and my assistant were behind the counter when they came in. The worrying thing was that we had a customer.

"The men shouted at me not to move and I put my hands up and said 'fine'.

"The second men went to the locked door and started kicking it. Things went a bit berserk. My assistant just pressed the alarm.

"When running a post office or working in a situation where you are handling large amounts of cash, it is one thing you expect might happen but it was frightening."

Police believe the offenders made off along Hatfield Road on a large red Honda motorcycle, model VFR 800.

The bike had been stolen from a house in Radlett on Tuesday night.

It was later found in a car park at the back of shops in nearby Cell Barnes Lane.

But police do not know how the men escaped from the car park and they are appealing for witnesses who saw anything suspicious in Hatfield Road or Woodstock Road South to contact them.

Detective Sergeant Jim Osmond, who is in charge of the case, described the offence as "very unpleasant", adding it was fortunate no-one was hurt.

Police have carried out house-to-house enquiries in the area and Mr Osmond said police were trying to piece together details of the crime.

He said: "At about 2pm, the two men were running up Cell Barnes Lane towards The Camp public house and they were taking their helmets off as they were running. Someone must have seen them."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Osmond on 01727 796020.

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