POLICE are hoping a postmaster who wielded a cricket bat to protect his premises during a break-in may have provided a clue to solving the crime.

The victim of the raid at the post office in Hallow, who has not been named, was alerted by the sounds of breaking glass just after 5am last Thursday, when three white males forced through his post office door.

During a scuffle, the postmaster, who needed stitches after the fight, managed to hit out at one of his attackers with a cricket bat.

Police now hope this act of self-defence holds the key to identifying the raiders, who later struck at another post office and are believed to be in their late teens or early 20s.

"I am appealing to anyone who thinks they may know of someone matching the description of the offenders with an injury to the upper body, consistent with being hit by a cricket bat, to contact me," said Det Sgt Andy Price.

Escape

Police believe the offenders escaped in a red Volvo and are linking this incident with the attempted raid at the Cutnall Green post office near Droitwich.

Andrew Holland, the postmaster at Cutnall Green, was asleep in bed upstairs when the

would-be raiders failed in their attempts to smash down the door at around 5.40am.

Post Office spokesman Don Veale confirmed the postmaster at Hallow was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital with minor injuries and received stitches.

He said both raids were connected with the retail side rather than the post office side.

Anyone with further information should contact police on 0845 444888 quoting c/655429 for the Hallow robbery and c/655430 for the Cutnall Green incident.