A SECURITY guard had a knife held at his throat during an armed robbery on a post office van in Prestwich.

Police were today hunting the four masked men, who stole a "substantial" amount of cash in the raid outside the town's Sandy Lane post office at 2.20pm yesterday.

The raiders, armed with a sawn-off shotgun, knife, iron bar and sledgehammer, confronted a 35-year-old Cashco employee seconds after he got out his Royal Mail van to make a delivery.

A knife was held to his throat and he was forced to the ground. He was then hit on the ankles with the sledgehammer and had the shotgun pressed into his back.

One thug got into the van, smashed a security screen before forcing open a security box and stealing a cash bag. The raiders also stole a number of parcels containing money.

Detectives say the four thugs arrived at the scene in two cars. One was a blue Ford Sierra, stolen from Ramsbottom on Tuesday.

This was left behind at the post office when the raiders escaped in a red Volvo car, which was previously stolen from Bolton on Monday. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Kersal Road, Prestwich.

Police are anxious to talk to anyone who saw the men transfer into another car at that location or who witnessed the raid.

The secuity guard suffered slight injuries, but declined hospital treatment.

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