A SHOT was fired as robbers escaped with hundreds of pounds following an armed robbery at Hurn Post Office yesterday afternoon.

Two men went in to the post office at Matchams Lane, Hurn, near Christchurch at around 3pm where they threatened staff and demanded money.

One man then fired a gun, believed to be a blank starting pistol, before making off with the money in a bronze-coloured BMW car.

The vehicle was later found abandoned and on fire in Whitelegg Way, Bournemouth.

Shocked postmistress Jessica Ritson, who was next door when the drama occurred, said her husband Roy, 57, and the shop assistant Joy were "very shaken".

She said: "My husband was counting some money when two young people came in with hoods on and tea towels round their mouths.

"One stood holding the door and the other one went to the post office counter with a gun and told him to give him the money.

"Roy thought they were joking, then he fired a shot and said give me the money' so Roy gave him some," she said.

The robber then leaned across the counter and snatched some more cash and the pair fled, she added.

She said: "I heard the alarm going off from in here, but I didn't take any notice because the panic alarm went off on its own yesterday and they were sending out an engineer.

"But I thought I'd better go and check. When I went out of the door Roy said we'd been robbed.

"He and Joy were pretty shaken up. Joy thought he'd been shot. Luckily there were no customers in the shop at the time."

Mrs Ritson added that she thought the shop had been targeted because of its location.

"There's a lot of exits and its very secluded," she said.

The shop will open as normal today, (Tues June 10) she added."We shan't be scared to go back in. We will just carry on," she said.

The two men are described as in their teens or early twenties. Both were around five feet ten inches tall and wearing dark hooded tops and baseball caps with the hoods pulled over their faces.

One man may have had a scarf over his face and both may have been wearing track-suit bottoms.

Dorset Police said no-one was injured in the incident.

DS Mark Fossey of Ferndown CID, said: "It is very important that we hear from anyone who witnessed the robbery and from anyone else who has any other information about the robbery or about the two men responsible.

"I would also like to appeal for information about the bronze coloured BMW saloon car registration number D522FEL and I believe this car may be the key to my investigation.

"It is important that I speak with anyone who saw the car arriving hear the post office before the robbery at 3pm and with anyone who saw the car drive away after the robbery.

"The car was abandoned on fire in Whitelegg Way, Bournemouth and I would like to hear from anyone who saw the car arrive in Whitelegg Way or who saw the two men running away from the car fire.

"I would also like to find out where the car has been kept over the last few days."

Witnesses or anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 01202 22 22 22 or the free and confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.