DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses and information after robbers brandishing a carving knife escaped with about £1,000 from Crabble Post Office at Dover.

There were several customers in the shop and two female cashiers behind the counter when a man entered and spoke to another female member of staff. She opened the post office security door to collect some cups and the man pushed her into a store room and closed the door.

A second man entered the post office and one of the cashiers tried to close the till. The first man produced a carving knife and grabbed notes from the till before pushing the other cashier out of the way. Both men escaped on foot.

The robbers struck at the Buckland Avenue premises at about 2.30pm on Monday.

The first man is white with short hair, aged between 28 and 35, 6ft tall and of slim build. He was wearing a hand knitted red scarf across his face, a blue three quarter length coat, jeans and distinctive grey slip on trainers without laces.

His accomplice is also white with short hair, aged betwen 26 and 33, of medium build, wearing a green or blue "bomber" style jacket, a blue jumper and white spectacles. Both men had local accents.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police on 01304 240055 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.