Post office armed robber sought

An investigation has been launched following an armed robbery at a post office in Edinburgh.

The incident happened at Craigmillar Post Office on Niddrie Mains Road at 1030 GMT on Thursday.

A man walked into the post office, presented what looked like a gun at the female shop assistant and demanded money.

She handed over several thousand pounds worth of cash and the man then fled in a blue Fiat Punto.

The car was seen driving off along Craigmillar Castle Loan before going along Craigmillar Castle Avenue and being lost to sight.

The man is white, between 30 and 35 years with a stocky build. He was wearing a cream thigh length jacket, dark hooded top underneath, brown shoes and a purple cap.

A Lothian and Borders Police spokeswoman said: "We are appealing to anyone who was in the vicinity of the Craigmillar post office on Niddrie Mains Road on Thursday and may have seen anything suspicious.

"Detectives are trying to establish how many culprits were involved in the robbery.

"The staff were badly shaken but otherwise uninjured."