MASKED raiders put a young woman through a terrifying ordeal when they struck at a post office in Crewe yesterday.

The 30-year-old postal worker from Winsford was confronted by three men wearing balaclavas as she opened the post office in the residential area of Alton Street at about 8.40am.

The robbers demanded the keys to the safe before tying her up with a length of rope and placing tape across her mouth.

They then took an undisclosed amount of money from the safe before two of them made off in the woman's car, a J-reg, red Nissan Micra.

The third man escaped across gardens towards the Rockwood Avenue area, leaving the woman tied up in the shop although she managed to free herself after a short time and raise the alarm.

The woman, whose name is not being released, suffered slight injuries and was very shaken and distressed.

A police spokesman said: 'Unfortunately the descriptions of the attackers are vague, but all  of them were wearing balaclavas and dark clothes.

The woman received slight injuries and was very distressed.'

Police are appealing for information from anyone who may have been in Alton Street around the time of the robbery.

Anyone who can help is asked to call Crewe police station on 01270 500222 or Crimewatch on 0800 555 111.