A RAIDER is being hunted after a security guard was robbed as he prepared to deliver cash to a Bournemouth post office.

The daylight raid at Tuckton Post Office yesterday morning was witnessed by shocked punters at a betting shop opposite and staff in a nearby barber’s shop.

The robber struck at about 10.30am after a red Mercedes Post Office van pulled up in Iford Lane, just round the corner from the Tuckton Road post office.

The security officer was punched to the ground and “a significant amount of cash” stolen, said police.

The robber is believed to have fled the scene in a small, dark-coloured Ford Focus, with another man.

The cash was in a grey plastic post office envelope.

Tuckton resident Simon Casey, 59, watched the drama unfold as he was having a coffee in his local bookmaker’s shop. He told the Daily Echo: “As the security guard walked round to the post office a man snatched the cash and ran off. He was so quick I couldn’t see his face. The guard and a member of staff at the post office gave chase but he was gone before they could catch him.

“The last sight I had of the robber was as he ran up Danesbury Avenue where there was probably a waiting getaway car.”

Police officers rushed to the scene and a helicopter was scrambled to assist in the search involving sniffer dogs.

Sharon Kelly, who works in Arnie’s barber shop, said: “I saw the guard getting out of the van to deliver cash to the post office and someone who came up from behind taking the money from him. The police were here in about five minutes.”

Jo Mumford, owner of Flair Hair in Tuckton Road, added: “I didn’t actually see it happen but I was told he was hit over the head.”

Her colleague, Marianne Teconi, said: “The first we knew of it was when we saw police cars outside.”

The robber was described as white, around 30 and dressed in dark clothing, including a hooded top and possibly tracksuit bottoms with a flash on the bottom left of the leg.

He was also wearing dark trainers with a stripe on the side and woolly gloves.

The second man was white, 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in tall and slim. He was wearing a dark coat, dark jeans, dark trainers and black gloves.

Following the raid, the post office was shut with a sign on display saying: “Closed due to incident, we will be open later today.”

Staff said they were unable to comment but a Royal Mail Group spokesman said: “We view this type of incident extremely seriously and we would urge anyone with information to contact the police as soon as possible.”

Detective Constable Steven May of Bournemouth CID said: “I am appealing for witnesses and anyone with information about this incident or those responsible to contact us urgently.”

You can call police in confidence on 101, quoting incident number 14:117, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.