EXCLUSIVE

HAVE-a-go hero postmaster Simon Rumsey was this week nursing a black eye after bravely taking on two masked axe-wielding robbers who fled with £900 cash.

The daring raid in Sutton, shortly before noon last Thursday, comes just three weeks after he took over the post office with wife Dawn - and just three years since a similar robbery in which former owners Mike and Margaret Brisley were attacked. The latest incident has rocked the sleepy hamlet - population 2,230 - that is still raw from the first episode.

The two criminals, believed to be part of a "collar and tie" gang, struck as a post office van delivering money turned up.

Dad-of-three Simon, 47, who was this week modestly playing down his part in seeing off the villains, would only say he wanted to put the drama behind him and move on.

"We just want to make a success of our business," he said. "There was a van delivering cash, which is what they were after, but I disturbed them and I ended up with a black eye."

"The main thing is that myself and my wife are both physically all right because that is the most important thing."

Neighbour Derek Potts, 68, said: "I was in the garden at the time and saw the getaway car leaving at quite a pace.

"I went across after the robbers had gone and the postmaster and his wife were shaken up - as you would be."

Eye-witnesses described seeing two men wearing dark clothing and balaclavas entering the post office on Tunnicliffe Road at 11.30am shortly after a Royal Mail delivery van arrived.

The duo demanded cash but Simon wasn't giving in without a struggle,

The Sutton born-and-bred family fought back, but the robbers managed to snatch £900 and sped off in a red Peugeot which they abandoned a short distance away in Bullocks Lane.

Detectives believe the robbers were in a convoy of two other cars - a mushroom coloured Jaguar and a small light blue Renault, possibly metallic, which went off in the direction of Sutton Garden Centre.

Both cars were driven by men in smart dress, wearing collars and ties.

Three years ago a hooded gang-of-four raided the post office, and local thug Craig Beaton, 19, of Pitt Street, Macclesfield, attacked popular former postmaster Mike Brisley with a mallet after breaking into his living quarters above the shop.

Thieves made off with just 300 cigarettes and later Beaton was sentenced to just 210 hours community punishment and an evening curfew - a punishment that outraged villagers at the time.

Sutton vicar Reverend Taffy Davies said: "Myself and my parishioners are very, very saddened that this kind of thing should happen to anyone but particularly to such a nice couple who have just taken over the reins."

And some residents have expressed fear for their children.

Mum-of-two, Louise Woolley said: "My concern is for my son, who is seven, who goes out to the post office on his own to buy sweeties.

"There are also a lot of elderly people who live round here and it must be frightening for them - we moved here because it was a wonderful little village and then this happens.

"It's not a million miles from our door."

Mum-of-one, Kate James, 47, said: "It is a bit scary to think that they might have come from Manchester but this won't worry me enough to move - if you move anywhere else it will only be worse."

Elizabeth Cunningham, 57, said: "This won't stop me from using the shop or the post office but I feel sorry for the couple.

"To be honest I'm just glad that we have a post office and I hope they don't take it away because of this - I shall be carrying on going there as normal."

A Post Office spokeswoman confirmed there had been a raid. "The office was closed but it has now reopened," she said.

  • POLICE are urging anyone with any information to contact DC Paul Williams or DC Neil Reed on 01244 613564 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.