A SECURITY guard was hit with a metal bar during a robbery outside Greenlands Post Office.

Two men stole a cash box from the Securicor guard as he called at the Studley Road post office to service a cash machine just before noon on Thursday.

When the pair, described as white and wearing black clothing and balaclavas, approached the guard, one hit him on the arm with a metal bar and snatched the money box he was carrying.

They then ran to a silver car, believed to be a Volkswagen Golf, and drove off.

DC Carl Ames, from Redditch CID, said: "Although shocked by his ordeal, the security guard was not seriously injured during this incident.

"However, a substantial amount of cash was stolen and as part of our investigation we are appealing to anyone with information to talk to the police.

"We also want to establish the direction of travel and so appeal to anyone who recalls seeing a small silver-coloured VW car driving away at speed to give us a call."

The robbery coincided with the launch of a new joint scheme set up by five forces, including West Mercia and Warwickshire police, to reduce crimes of this sort.

As part of the Follow That Van scheme, officers in marked cars on routine patrols will follow cash in transit deliveries to make sure they reach their destinations safely.

Officers will also collect information about anyone acting suspiciously around the vans, which will be collated by local detectives and shared with colleagues throughout the region.

Anyone with information about the robbery can call Redditch CID on 08457 444888 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.