Girl threatened during robbery

The girl was threatened at her father's business

An 11-year-old girl has been threatened with a knife during a robbery at a post office and supermarket near Ballymena in County Antrim.

The incident happened as a man was locking up the premises at Glenravel Road in Martinstown at 2200 GMT on Sunday.

A three-man gang, armed with a knife and a sledgehammer, grabbed the man's daughter and threatened her before demanding money from the post office safe.

A substantial sum of money was stolen during the robbery.

Gillian Ferguson: "We would appeal for information from anyone who has seen anything"

Police say the robbers are believed to have escaped in a waiting car in the direction of Cushendall.

Detective constable Gillian Ferguson said: "What concerns us most is that an 11-year-old girl was subjected to this kind of threatening behaviour.

"Obviously it has been a very stressful period for the family who are very concerned about their daughter.

"That is why we would appeal for information from anyone who has seen anything suspicious in the area around that time yesterday evening."

Meanwhile, in west Belfast, a man armed with a handgun demanded money from a member of staff at a Spar shop on the Whiterock Road.

He then produced a knife and pointed it at the throat of a second member of staff before making off with a sum of cash.