THIEVES armed with what witnesses described as a” handgun” have made off with cash and cigarettes from a Post Office after threatening staff.

Two men entered Darlington’s Blackwell Post Office, off Carmel Road South, at around 5.45am on Friday morning.

Members of staff were inside the premises at the time and were shaken by the incident, but were left uninjured.

A police cordon was set up around the premises operated by Mace and the shop remained closed for several hours.

A Durham Police spokeswoman said: “A quantity of cash and cigarettes were taken after a member of staff was threatened with what looked like a handgun before the two male robbers made off.”

Would-be customers were also turned away from the corner shop by a police community support officer stood guarding the scene.

Around four hours after the incident, scenes of crime officers could be seen pointing to areas of interest on the paved footpath outside the shop, before entering the Post Office itself.

A spokesman for Costcutter Supermarkets Group, that operates Mace, said: “The police have been dealing with a robbery at the store that took place this morning.

“We are pleased to report that no members of staff were hurt and that the store will be reopening to the public shortly.”

Two Durham Police officers in plain clothes could be seen inside the shop, alongside a uniformed officer and a scenes of crime officer in white overalls from the the force’s Crime Scene Investigation Unit.

Nearby residents had speculated that the raid had been carried out in the early morning.

A reader told The Northern Echo: “My son drove past on his way to work at 7.15am and it was all taped up with lots of cops.

“He said it looked like it happened early this morning.”

Another added that before a formal statement was issued by the police, officers would only state it was “business-related”.

  • Anyone who saw anything suspicious is urged to contact Durham Police on 101 quoting reference 39 of February 16 or contact Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.