THREE machete-wielding thieves are being hunted by police after they held up an East Lancashire post office.

The masked gang threatened postmistress Barbara Poole, her husband Billy and their son as they worked at Rising Bridge post office earlier today.

Detectives said the thieves who struck shortly after 11am did not hurt the family but managed to steal a ‘substantial amount of cash’ thought to be in the thousands.

The gang then left the Blackburn Road scene in a red Volvo estate type car heading in the direction of Roundhill Lane, officers said.

The shocked family, who have run the business for more than 15 years, are now recovering at home and said they were too upset to talk.

The attack comes almost a month after a postmaster in Rishton was tied up and beaten by a masked gang during a robbery. Mohammed Iqbal, 31, was restrained with cable ties after thugs, dressed in white CSI-style suits, broke into his Post Office.

In the Rishton attack the three raiders stole a ‘substantial’ sum of cash from the safe and also stole the victim’s car after the 30-minute ordeal.

Police said it was to early to speculate if the two robberies were linked.

After today’s raid neighbour Martin Aspinall, 44, said he was ‘shocked’ his community’s hub had been targeted.

The 44-year-old of Blackburn Road, Rising Bridge, said: “I can’t understand why anybody would want to do this to such nice people.

“The post office is such a community hub and everybody uses it.

“They are lovely people and I just can’t believe that this has happened.

“It seems like there is a worrying trend at the moment with post offices being targeted after the incident in Rishton recently.

“It almost seems inevitable that each one will be done over at some point.

“You can’t fault the police in any way because they are stretched but more should be done if possible.

“I can’t imagine what the family are going through. It must have been awful for them.”

Nearby resident David Hollinson, 64, of Rising Bridge Road, said: “Anything like this will affect everybody in the area.

“It’s a real community asset and it’s horrible that this has happened.”

Another neighbour, added: “I don’t know how anybody can think that this is an acceptable thing to do.

“It’s absolutely horrible for the family. This is quite a small community and everybody here knows everybody.

“They are such nice people and this is so sad and very upsetting.

“I hope that the police find who ever has done this and that justice is served. It’s not just their business but also their home as well.”

Ivan McMillan, the owner of Eureka Animal Feeds, which is opposite the post office, said: “The first thing I knew something was wrong was when I saw Barbara at the window.

“At first I thought that there had been a fire but I could not see any smoke.”

Two of the thieves were described as wearing black tracksuit style tops and bottoms, while the third man was wearing a grey tracksuit.

Det Insp Martin Melvin, who is leading the investigation, said: “This was a terrifying ordeal for the postmistress and her family, but fortunately they were not injured.

“I would like to reassure the public that we are on with our initial inquiries including trying to identify and look through any potential CCTV that could assist us with our inquiries.

“If you witnessed anything suspicious or you know anything about this incident at all, please get in touch with us at your earliest opportunity.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101.