A DEDICATED Robbery Unit has been set up in Bury after violent robbers struck three times over the weekend.

In the first raid a man on a bicycle wearing a motorbike helmet went into Black Lane Post Office in Radcliffe and demanded cash at gunpoint at around 11.20am on Friday.

The white man, who was in his mid 20s, fled on his bike with a large amount of money.

A short time later, at around 11.50am, a 25-year-old man was bundled into the back of his bakery van in Lower Street, and threatened by two men, one of whom was armed with a meat cleaver.

The pair escaped with a large amount of cash on foot.

The first man was white, in his early 20s and 5ft 9in tall. The second was wearing a black bomber jacket.

Then, shortly before 10pm on Saturday two men went into the Best Saver off licence in Price Street. They were wearing black and had their faces covered.

One of the men went behind the counter. Both men then assaulted a 31-year-old man who was working there, breaking his nose.

The men escaped with some cash and a large amount of cigarettes before escaping in a nearby silver car.

Detectives in Bury have now set up a robbery unit in an attempt to tackle business robberies in the lead up to Christmas.

Detective Inspector Sarah Jackson, from Bury CID, said: “I want to reassure residents that we take these matters extremely seriously and investigate all such incidents thoroughly.”

Police do not believe these three incidents are linked.