PUPILS were kept under guard by staff for more than half an hour after armed post office raiders dumped their getaway car near Westleigh High School, Leigh.

Head teacher Stephen Preston ordered everyone to stay indoors while he and senior staff, patrolled the school.

He said: "Safety of our children is very important. We took the measure as a precaution until we were assured by the police that the suspects were not in the school area."

Detectives believe the same gang was involved in separate robberies at post offices up to one mile apart.

The hooded thugs first confronted a man delivering cash to Westleigh Post Office, Westleigh Lane, at 10.43am. The victim was threatened with a hammer.

The gang escaped in a BMW car. Five minutes after the first robbery the same thugs are thought to have robbed Firs Lane Post Office.

Four men, who arrived at the scene in a red BMW car, escaped with a haul of cash. All four were wearing balaclava masks.

Officers aboard GMP's helicopter were called in within minutes to join a large hunt for the raiders. Police patrols monitored all main roads on the outskirts of Leigh.

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