Two staff members were injured during a robbery at a post office in West Dorset.

Bridport Police Inspector Mike Darby said police were appealing for witnesses to the incident at Bradpole Post Office.

He said: “A robbery took place in Bradpole on Tuesday afternoon and we believe the three men involved were in the vicinity of the post office between 2pm and 3pm and we are appealing for anybody who may have seen three young men wearing casual clothing acting suspiciously in the area.

“This is a very unusual offence for Bridport. Local knowledge from Bridport officers and assistance from the public allowed us to identify a potential address where the suspects could have been and three men were subsequently arrested and are currently in Weymouth helping police with their enquiries.”

Postmaster Peter Satur said repairs would have to be done before the shop could re-open.

He said: ““Obviously I am very cross. I have an excellent professional team and I have two members of the team have been hurt and injured. There are a number of things we have to deal with first before we can open.

“It is an unnecessary incident and I am just cross that members of staff have been hurt because of this unnecesary incident in our village community.

“We need to do repairs and things like that so we will be closed until further notice.

“There is a shedload of paperwork and I have an armful of things to sort out so I am going to be fully occupied with paperwork and police.”

Town and County Cllr Ron Coatsworth, who represents Bradpole, said it was a very shocking incident.

He said: “It is awful that this kind of thing should happen in Bradpole.

“It is really a bit of a shock.

“Locally and nationally as far as police are concerned the number of robberies and break-ins has gone down considerably.

“Post offices are one of the only people that keep money because they are in a sense the local bank and that makes them vulnerable although they have fairly good precautions.

“Most shops get rid of their money straightaway but post offices have to have the money to give out.”

Cllr Coatsworth said Peter and Jacqui Satur had settled in well after taking over from Mike Chivers at the beginning of the year.

Cllr Coatsworth said: “I have been up there and the post office works very well. And the shop seems to be doing quite well.

“I just hope they get it cleared up as quickly as they can and the business goes back to usual because it is an invaluable service.”

Bradpole Parish Council clerk Sandy Goldsmith said: “It is a very shocking incident but fortunately not common in the Bridport and Bradpole area.

“Our crime rate has been very low over the last few years so it is shocking for a small community.

“The couple have become involved in the village since they arrived and been to parish meetings and they are working very hard to try and improve and they are very valued by the community.”