A man who took part in an armed post office raid in Whalley has been sentenced to seven years custody.

Preston Crown court was told that the family who run the post office were terrified as the £23,000 raid took place in September last year.

Zabir Issa, 20, of Bicknell Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to his part in the robbery.

He claimed another man committed the robbery while he waited in a car.

He was dealt with on his version of events and that of joint enterprise.

Police were quick on the trail of the culprits as a quick-thinking 14 year old boy memorised the car registration number.

His actions were praised by Judge Pamela Badley who awarded him £250.

Nicholas Courney, prosecuting, said the raid took place on September 8 last year and involved the post office in King Street, as Susan Baldwin and her husband, Stephen, were closing for the day.

The robber, holding a replica pistol, told Mr Baldwin to kneel on the floor.

The gun was brandished at Mrs Baldwin and threats were made to shoot her husband before the money was taken.

The car involved was later found abandoned. Inside was the gun and money.

A MAN who took part in an armed post office raid in Whalley has been sentenced to seven years custody.

Preston Crown court was told that the family who run the post office were terrified as the £23,000 raid took place in September last year.

Zabir Issa, 20, of Bicknell Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to his part in the robbery.

He claimed another man committed the robbery while he waited in a car.

He was dealt with on his version of events and that of joint enterprise.

Police were quick on the trail of the culprits as a quick-thinking 14 year old boy memorised the car registration number.

His actions were praised by Judge Pamela Badley who awarded him £250.

Nicholas Courney, prosecuting, said the raid took place on September 8 last year and involved the post office in King Street, as Susan Baldwin and her husband, Stephen, were closing for the day.

The robber, holding a replica pistol, told Mr Baldwin to kneel on the floor.

The gun was brandished at Mrs Baldwin and threats were made to shoot her husband before the money was taken.

The car involved was later found abandoned. Inside was the gun and money.