POLICE searching fields for post office raiders made a grim discovery when they came across the body of a middle-aged woman.

The body had not been identified last night, but detectives in Bishop Auckland were checking through records of people reported missing in the area during the past few weeks.

Officers were combing the St Helen Auckland area after two men wearing balaclavas and carrying hammers burst into a Post Office in Manor Road at 3pm on Monday.

Twenty minutes later, a police helicopter called to help with the search directed them to a field behind the Greenfields Industrial Estate, where the body had been seen.

Acting Detective Sergeant Joanne Turnbull, of Bishop Auckland CID, said: "At first, we thought it could have been one of the robbers lying on the ground, but it turned out to be a body."

She said that a post-mortem examination was made at Bishop Auckland General Hospital but her identity and the cause of death was still not known. Further tests will be carried out today.

The woman is believed to have been in her late 40s or early 50s and her body had probably been in the field for some time.

Police have been concerned for the safety of 54-year-old mental patient Julie Sams, a long-term resident of the Goodall Unit, on the Woodhouse Close Estate, who has not been seen since the end of last month.

Meanwhile, police have appealed for help in tracking down the raiders who threatened post office staff before running off with an undisclosed sum of money.

Police believe one made his getaway through West Auckland.

Det Sgt Turnbull said: "They may have discarded items as they fled, including money or the balaclavas.

"If anyone has picked up anything like that or saw anyone acting suspiciously on Monday afternoon, we would like to hear from them."

Jackie Appleton, who owns Appleton's fish and chip shop two doors from the post office, said: "Nobody was too shocked because they are targeting little post offices like this all the time."

Anyone with information should contact Bishop Auckland police station on (01388) 603566.