Post office closes over robbery fears

Robbers struck in the market town of Helmsley

A third post office in North Yorkshire is to close following an armed robbery in which a postmaster was gassed with a pepper spray.

The postmasters at Hovingham and Nawton resigned last week and now their colleague at Brandsby is closing his counter as well.

Andrew Wright, who runs the post office there, told BBC North Yorkshire: "I have a young family and my wife is pregnant, so we have come to the conclusion that we will have to shut because of the safety aspect."

The closures follow an attack at Helmsley Post Office on 14 January.

Pepper spray

Thieves used a chainsaw to break into the store and then gassed the postmaster and his assistant with what police believe may have been pepper spray.

Mr Wright said his shop would stay open, but the post office counter would close.

"Pensions will have to be drawn in Easingwold or Stillington, where the post office is up for sale at the moment.

"Then it will be down to the office in Easingwold to cover this area which is a very sad thing."