Tuesday, 5.50pm - A BRAVE Post Office owner has described the moment he fought off two masked men who attacked him with samurai swords as they tried to steal his takings yesterday.

Alan Garratt was injured defending himself against the balaclava-clad men after they burst into Knipton Post Office at 5pm.

The 68-year-old suffered a half-inch deep wound to his left arm, which needed eight stitches, and cuts to his fingers.

The robbers repeatedly swiped at him with the 2ft-long swords during the terrifying 40-second attack.

One of the men jumped over the counter three times to try to grab the cash till.

Mr Garratt was so determined to defend his shop, he even knocked one of his attackers on to the ground as he tried to vault over the counter and threw a bottle of sherry at them.

The pair left empty-handed after it became obvious Mr Garratt was not going to let them get the better of him.

A CCTV camera behind the shop counter, which was only installed on Saturday, captured the shocking raid on tape.

The footage clearly shows Mr Garratt being slashed with the swords.
Talking the Journal through the tape, he said: "What I did wasn't heroic.

"It was equally brave and stupid. I had no idea they were attacking me with swords - I thought they were crowbars.

"It was only when we watched the CCTV back that we realised.

"In 40 seconds you don't have time to be scared, all you think about is defending your livelihood."

Mr Garratt and his wife Erica have run the Post Office and store for almost 18 years.

Mrs Garratt was in the store at the time of the attack and called the police as her husband fended off the robbers.

In their time there they have been raided four times, including an armed robbery.

Only five days ago, on Wednesday evening, the couple returned home to find intruders had been in the store and tried to break into the safe.

Mr Garratt, who has had extra security installed today, said: "It makes you think whether it's all worth it.

"These people are obviously doing it for the money, but we're not going to let them beat us.

"We would have opened the shop today if we could have."

Police are connecting the two attempted robberies and are appealing for witnesses to contact them.

They want to know more about a silver/grey small car, with part-registration AG08, which they believe Wednesday night's intruders used to get away.

Det Con Pete Martin, of Melton CID, said: "We are actively looking into CCTV and making house to house enquiries in the area and it is important anyone who has any information regarding these incidents urgently gets in touch with us.

"I would also like to reassure the community that incidents of this nature are rare in small villages such as Knipton and a full investigation is now underway with officers trying to piece together exactly what happened."

Information DC 385 Pete Martin at Melton CID on 0116 222 2222, follow the instructions to leave a message for a police officer and when prompted key in the officers identification number 0385, or contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT FRIDAY'S RAID AT ANCASTER POST OFFICE

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