FOUR men will appear in court today charged with an attempted armed raid at a village post office.
The men were arrested by police investigating the attempted robbery at the post office in Shotton Colliery, east Durham, shortly after cash had been delivered on Thursday morning.
Alarms were triggered by staff and three masked intruders, brandishing a hammer, fled the Front Street office empty-handed.
An off-duty police officer, who gave chase, was allegedly threatened with a hammer and a handgun, before the men escaped in a waiting car.
The quartet, who were arrested in the village of Ludworth, near Durham City, later that day, will appear before the town's magistrates this morning charged with attempted robbery and firearms offences.
Detectives investigating the raid have appealed for information about a blue 3 Series BMW, registration RJ04 NKL, which travelled at speed through Wheatley Hill towards Ludworth, on Thursday morning.
Witnesses are asked to ring Peterlee CID, on 0191-586 2621, or the free-phone Crimestoppers line anonymously, on (0800) 555111.
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