Exclusive by Martin Jefferies

A have-a-go hero who stamped out a robbery at a Birchington post office says he didn’t think twice about wrestling the raider to the ground.

The local electrician, who asked not to be named, leapt into action when a masked man shoved a female security officer to the ground and grabbed a cash box she was loading into a van on Tuesday.

He had been wiring up the village Christmas lights in Station Road when the robber struck at around 1.30pm.

Audio: Hear the electrician talking to KM Group reporter Rob Daly about his heroic actions

The brave 49-year-old, who was working with a colleague at the time, said: "It all happened very quickly. We were putting up the Christmas lights when my friend saw a man with his face covered and thought it didn’t seem quite right.

"The next thing we knew the security guard had been knocked to the floor. The attacker was a big lad - bigger than myself - but I wrestled him to the ground and he dropped the cash box. When he broke free, my friend chased after him but he jumped into a van and was driven away.

"I never even thought about whether he'd be armed or not; it was just a natural reaction. You do think about what might have happened afterwards though."

The security officer had just collected cash from the post office and was returning to her vehicle when she was attacked.

She was taken to hospital at Margate - but is not thought to have been seriously injured. Kent Police said the stolen cash box was recovered and the offender fled the scene empty handed.

A spokesman said he escaped in a green Citroën Berlingo van, registration number R611 BKJ, in the direction of Minnis Bay. The vehicle was later found abandoned in Park Lane, Birchington.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 01843 231055 or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.