DRAMATIC scenes unfolded after a man claiming to have a gun held up a post office in Dorchester.

Police swooped on Victoria Park Post Office in Maud Road yesterday morning after receiving reports of an armed robbery.

Postmaster Hugh Quinn said he could not believe it when a man came up to him and threatened him with a gun, which he did not show. Police said later no weapon had been recovered from the scene.

Mr Quinn said: “A man came up to the counter – he said he wanted the money and that he had a gun.

“He came up to me with his hand in his pocket and he made it look like he was pointing a gun at me.

“I thought he was joking at first but then it became obvious that he was serious.”

Mr Quinn, who has been at the shop for 13 years, said he evacuated the shop and called the police.

He said: “I told him I didn’t believe him and I phoned the police from behind the counter.

“I thought if he really had a gun he would have shown it to me.

“There were other customers in here at the time. We emptied out the shop and put someone on the door to stop people coming in.”

He added: “He was still there when the police arrived and still making the threats – the longer it went on the more unsure I got.

“He was really determined, even when the officers came in he was still demanding money.”

Neighbouring businesses have spoken of their shock and said they are horrified by the incident.

Gemma Richards, a member of staff at nearby business Crusty Cobb bakery, said she could not believe what had happened.

She said: “I walked up to the shop and saw a load of people outside and I just thought it was closed.

“Then I saw the police and someone told me a man had a gun inside and I just couldn’t believe it.

“It was quite frightening because he could have had a gun.

“Everyone’s a bit shocked.”

Monica Daly, owner of a neighbouring pharmacy, said she was horrified that the incident happened on their doorstep.

She said: “We’re all a bit amazed and horrified.

“It’s such a small community – people tend to know each other.

“For something like this to happen is quite surprising. I really feel for the staff at the post office.”

'There was no weapon involved'

Dorchester Inspector Les Fry said: “At 9.34am on Friday, May 18, we received a report from the Victoria Park post office in Maud Road of a man at the counter who said he had a gun.

“Three or four cars attended the scene and a 79-year-old man was detained and arrested and is helping us with inquiries.

“There was no weapon involved.”