A WOMAN needed hospital treatment yesterday after being attacked by a three-strong gang of robbers in a raid at a village post office.

Robbers struck in the quiet village of Ebchester, near Consett, County Durham, yesterday afternoon in a daylight raid.

Minutes after 1pm, the gang entered the single-storey post office and general dealers on Vindomora Road in the village, which is the main route between Shotley Bridge and Newcastle, known locally as the Low Road.

The robbers, who were unarmed, struggled with a female member of staff and grabbed an amount of cash, before escaping on foot towards the nearby village of Hamsterley.

There is no indication as yet whether a getaway vehicle was used.

The assistant was slightly injured in the incident and was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham for treatment, but was later released. She was said last night to be shaken by the robbery and was being comforted by friends and family at home.

The postmaster last night declined to comment.

Police say they are looking for three white men in connection with the attack.

The first was in his late 20s or early 30s and was about 5ft 8ins, with short dark wavy hair and facial stubble. He was wearing a blue coat and dark trousers. The second man was aged 18 to 20 and had a distinctive cold-sore type mark on his face. He had short dark hair and a fair complexion. He was about 5ft 10ins, with a broad build and round face, wearing a hip-length jacket and black trousers.

The eldest member of the gang was in his early 40s, 6ft tall and slim, with short, dark hair. He was wearing a dark jacket and trousers.

Yesterday's raid comes almost three years to the day after the neighbouring post office at Hamsterley was robbed in broad daylight, less than a mile away from Ebchester on the same road.

On January 2, 2001, postmaster Eric Turner fended off two machete-wielding masked men, who escaped from the premises with a substantial amount of cash.

Two men were jailed 18 months later for their part in that raid.

Police ask anyone who witnessed yesterday's robbery, or who may have seen anything suspicious in the moments before or afterwards, to ring detectives on 0845 6060365, or Crimestoppers 0800 555111.