A 61-year-old sub postmistress stood up to two masked robbers.

The raiders, one of whom had a grate wrapped in a T-shirt, the other a metal bar, made off with a substantial amount of cash from the New Herrington post office, in Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, at 3.50pm on Tuesday.

The first man threw the grate at the security glass before he and his accomplice reached into the cash drawer.

The postmistress tried to intervene, but was threatened by the second man. She was not injured, but was left shaken.

The men escaped in a stolen red Ford Granada, which was driven by a third man.

It was abandoned in nearby Railway Terrace, where the men transferred to a dark red Fiesta, or Micra, and drove towards Sunderland.

One of the men was about 20-years-old, 6ft and well-built. He wore a black ski mask and white dust mask, silver-grey sweatshirt, tracksuit bottoms and black knitted gloves.

The second man was in his 20s, about 6ft 3in and well-built. He wore a black ski mask and white dust mask, and a red fleece jacket. Both had local accents.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Washington CID.