POLICE have made several arrests after a safe containing a large amount of cash was stolen from a post office after raiders smashed through a back wall.

A council worker spotted the massive hole in the wall at the Whale Hill Post Office, Eston neat Middlesbrogh, when they turned up to empty the bins at the rear of the parade of shops.

The post office remained closed today while police and insurance investigations were carried out.

Veena Dave , Whale Hill’s postmistress for seven years, said: “All we know is it happened last night. The police are still investigating but we don’t really know anything so far.

“The bin man came to collect the bin this morning, he saw the hole and phoned the police.

“I know a safe has been taken - a big, heavy safe. I don’t know the details, but one person can’t have taken that on their own, no way. I think they must have broken the padlock on the gate to get into the yard.”

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said several arrests had been made following last night’s burglary, and they were a mix of men and women.

She also confirmed the stolen safe contained a large amount of cash.