POLICE were last night hunting two raiders who robbed a rural post office and fled with thousands of pounds in cash.A 39-year-old woman working at the Co-op owned Post Office in Chapel Road, West Bergholt, was left badly shaken after the men strode through the shop door and confronted her shortly after 5pm yesterday.

POLICE were last night hunting two raiders who robbed a rural post office and fled with thousands of pounds in cash.

A 39-year-old woman working at the Co-op owned Post Office in Chapel Road, West Bergholt, was left badly shaken after the men strode through the shop door and confronted her shortly after 5pm yesterday.

One robber outstretched his arms and held a bundle of cloth covering an object that the woman feared was a gun.

He demanded money and the pair forced her to unlock the door of the counter and open the safe.

The two men, who were both wearing scarves over their faces, made their getaway on foot, running down Chapel Road with bundles of cash.

The woman was not hurt in the raid.

The Post Office was last night sealed off to allow police fingerprint investigations to be carried out.

A spokesman for Essex Police said the first man was described as white, 6ft 1in tall, aged in his late teens and slim. He was wearing a red scarf of thick material and light blue coloured top.

His accomplice was about 5ft 7ins tall, stockily built and aged in his 20s. He was also wearing a light blue top and sand coloured shoes.

Jeanette Baker, who used to work from the post office as a post lady delivering letters in and around the village, said she had been in just down the road when the incident happened.

She said: "I never heard a thing, but my daughter Alison was getting changed at the time. She saw two men running off and we heard the alarm go off.

"I'm not really surprised what's happened. Post offices are so vulnerable these days – you hear about them getting robbed all the time.

"My mother was a post lady too and I grew up seeing the changes in the post office."

Jenny Hitchin, 19, was getting ready to go to work at the nearby pub, The Treble Tile, when she drove past and saw police in the street around the shop.

She said: "I live close to the post office, but didn't hear anything. I'm surprised no one in the pub has been talking about it because gossip travels pretty quickly around here."

Colchester and East Essex Co-op stepped in to save the Chapel Road post office in 2001 after fears it would be closed.

A spokesman for Essex Police said anyone who recognises the men or saw their getaway should contact Colchester police on 01206 762212.