A CONVICTED armed robber who handed a ‘bomb’ to a Burnley sub-postmaster is wanted by Lancashire Police.

John William Blair, 62, held up Walk Mill post office, in Burnley Road, Cliviger, with what appeared to be a sawn-off shotgun.

And after bursting into the premises he told sub-postmaster Graham West that he had ‘made a contribution to the IRA’, before handing over what he claimed was a bomb.

The raid also saw another customer fear for his life and a pregnant woman was forced to the floor, a jury heard.

Blair was convicted of robbery and placing an article with intent to deceive that it would explode, after a four-day trial at Burnley Crown Court in May 1995, and was jailed for 11 years.

Passing sentence, Judge Ian Webster told the Halifax-born robber he was guilty of ‘a pathetic attempt to avoid justice’.

Blair served part of his sentence before he was allowed out on licence but he has breached this and his present location is unknown.

Insp John Clucas, of Lancashire Police, said: “Blair has been wanted for some time but we never stop looking for people on our wanted list.”

Blair, who also uses the name Gibbons, lived in Mark Lane, Todmorden, when he carried out the Cliviger robbery.

He was known to be an alcoholic.

His accomplices were jailed for seven and three years respectively for their roles in the incident.

Anyone with any information about Blair’s current whereabouts is asked to call Lancashire Police on 0845 125 3545.