A SHOTGUN was fired during a failed armed raid at a Prestwich post office yesterday.

Men armed with a sledgehammer and a single-barrel shotgun struck at the Danesway post office in Bury Old Road.

They threatened the 52-year-old sub-post master and the sledgehammer was used to smash a security screen.

Police say the shotgun was placed under a security hatch and fired. No-one was injured and the men fled empty handed.

They made off in a stolen red Ford Fiesta van which was found abandoned in Parksway, Prestwich.