VILLAGE residents spoke of their shock last night after a well loved couple were bound and threatened with a hammer during a terrifying raid on their home.

VILLAGE residents spoke of their shock last night after a well loved couple were bound and threatened with a hammer during a terrifying raid on their home.

Lucy Davies, former sub-postmistress of Chevington Post Office, and her husband, who has not been named, were set upon when raiders broke into their home at 4am yesterday morning .

Police said Mr Davies was treated at West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds, following the raid.

It is believed he suffered an asthma attack either during or after the robbers struck. He and his wife were last night recovering at home.

Their property in Chedburgh Road is next door to the post office and detectives believe the bungling thieves may have thought Mrs Davies still ran the branch.

Residents of the quiet village were yesterday still coming to terms with the shocking robbery.

Ann Sadler, who has lived in the village for more than 20 years, said: "I am very shocked. Mrs Davies is a very quiet lady and has run the post office for years.

"She is a very important part of our community, she is well liked and a very nice person."

Tracy Fance , joint landlady of the Greyhound pub, said: "It was really shocking and I can't believe people would do that.

"Whoever it was didn't know the village as the couple just lived next door and had nothing to do with the post office anymore. You don't expect people to be tied up in a quiet little village like this."

The couple, who are both in their 70s, were expected to make a formal statement to police last night as officers were continuing house to house enquiries.

The two men who broke into the property demanded the keys to the post office before searching the couple's home and leaving them tied up before fleeing.

The couple managed to free themselves and phone the police who believe nothing was stolen during the raid. A police spokesman also said they did not gain access to the post office.

Det Insp Karl Smith, who is heading the investigation said: "Fortunately the elderly couple were not seriously injured and managed to release themselves before calling police from a neighbouring property.

"As you can imagine this must have been a terrifying ordeal and they have both been left extremely shaken.

"The male occupant of the property was taken to West Suffolk Hospital for a check up following the incident.

"I would like to appeal to anyone who was in the area and noticed anyone acting suspiciously between 3am and 5.15am to come forward as they may have vital information to assist us with our enquiries."

One of the men was described as white, about 5ft 8ins tall, in his 30s, medium build, wearing a dark woollen hat, dark trousers and jacket.

The second man was also white, about 5ft 9ins to 10ins tall, medium build, wearing a balaclava, dark jacket and dark trousers.

The current sub-postmistress declined to comment on the incident yesterday while the victims of the bungled robbery were too upset to talk.

Anyone with any information should contact Suffolk Police on 01284 774100 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.