A RADCLIFFE post office boss who disarmed a gun-wielding raider -- defying death as two shots were fired during a brutal struggle -- is to receive a bravery award.

Derek Hill will be honoured for his actions tomorrow when he receives a Chief Constable's Commendation and Citation of Merit.

The award will be made by police chief David Wilmot and the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Cllr Gordon Conquest, in a ceremony at Manchester Town Hall.

Mr Hill, who lives in Radcliffe, will be honoured for his action, along with two other members of the public, for their part in overpowering the gunman.

The incident happened last year when the gunman burst into the post office in Blackley where Mr Hill is the manager.

The gunman demanded cash but Mr Hill lunged at the thug and grabbed the gun. During a vicious struggle between the two the firearm was discharged twice.

As the two men fought, a woman customer ran to the safe and locked it before phoning for the police. Another member of the public activated the alarm.

The gunman then tried to escape and dropped his gun but Mr Hill managed to close the security door, trapping the thug's leg. Two other members of the public then came to his aid as a woman started to hit the thug with her walking stick.

Police officers then arrested the gunman, who is now serving a 16-year jail term. Mr Hill was commended by the judge at the Manchester Crown Court hearing.

Mr Wilmot will also present a cheque at the ceremony to Bolton police officer Sgt Gary Edwards, who submitted a time-saving idea through the force suggestion scheme for assisting probationary police officers. The new scheme gives rookie police officers a more comprehensive overview of tasks they need to complete. The new system has now been adopted by divisions throughout the force.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.