Armed robber pushes customer to the floor and threatens cashier during raid in the Harborough district

While this was going on, local choir East Midlands Singing For Fun Tilton was rehearsing nextdoor in the main hall of the village hall in Tilton on the Hill, where the temporary post office was set up.

They heard screams at about 4pm and members of the choir ran to her aid but were too late to help.

A spokesperson from Leicestershire Police said: "A man had entered the premises in Leicester Road, pushed a member of the public to the floor and threatened the cashier with what was described as a metal pipe before leaving the building with a quantity of cash.

!The suspect left in the direction of the A47.

"No injuries have been reported.

"Enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.

"Anyone with information can call 101 quoting crime reference 20*69442."