Detectives investigating two raids on a post office in Capel St Mary have released an image of the getaway car used by the armed suspect.

The robber, wearing a kids’ Halloween mask, made off with cash after brandishing a gun at the postmaster and an assistant at around 10.41am last Wednesday.

It is believed the same man attempted to rob the store on Friday, April 30, but left empty-handed.

In the latest raid, the man then left the village in a blue Ford, driving off towards Links Road.

He is described as white, in his 40s, very tall and of large build, with short, dark hair and was wearing a dark blue sweatshirt, blue jeans and a children’s party mask coloured black, white and red.

Detective Inspector David Giles, of Suffolk police, said: “We have been speaking to several witnesses and the car the offender was driving has been identified as a blue Ford Mondeo estate manufactured around 1998.

“The car was displaying two different number plates when it left the scene, an X registration on the back and an 04 plate beginning EJ on the front.

“It has been established that the 04 plate was stolen from a car in Capel St Mary some time between Friday 30th April and Saturday 1st May, and the X registration plate was stolen from a car in Langham in Essex between Thursday, April 29 and Saturday, May 1.

“Officers are continuing to carry out additional patrols in Capel St Mary to provide reassurance to the local community. Crime prevention advice and assistance is also being given to the Post Office.”

Anyone with any information about this incident should contact West Suffolk CID on 01473 613500.