DETECTIVES believe the same man may have robbed Goostrey Post Office and a Rode Heath off-licence within the space of 90 minutes.

Officers are appealing for witnesses to the raids, which happened yesterday afternoon (Thursday).

The first robbery was reported at 2.58pm at Bargain Booze in Sandbach Road, Rode Heath.

A man entered the shop and threatened staff with a wheel brace before fleeing with cash.

Then at 4.32pm police were called to the post office in Main Road, Goostrey, following reports of staff being threatened with a wheel brace before the man fled with a quantity of cash.

Police attended both scenes and made searches of the area, and are continuing to make inquiries in Rode Heath and Goostrey, which are 10 miles apart.

The man being sought is described as white, with scraggy dark hair. He is believed to be 20 to 30 years old, about 6ft tall and of slim build.

He was wearing a grey tracksuit and black trainers with white soles. At the Goostrey incident he was wearing a grey and green hooded top with black tracksuit pants and black trainers with white soles.

Knutsford Guardian:

Police at Goostrey Post Office

Jonathan Royle, the sub postmaster responsible for Goostrey Post Office said: "The man came in and demanded cash and produced a wheel brace, which he was waving about.

"The man had waited until the customers had gone out, and two members of staff were serving at the time.

"Although no-one was harmed it was an unpleasant experience for them."

Newsagent Nigel Fallon, whose shop is opposite the post office, said: "The first I was aware of it was when a police car came roaring in.

"It's the kind of thing you don't expect to happen in such a lovely village as here."

DS Dave Jarvis said: “We are working on the theory that these two incidents may be linked.

“I would urge anyone who may have seen suspicious activity that may have been connected to the robberies to contact police.

“If you have dashcam footage and you were in the area between 2.45pm and 3.05pm in Rode Heath, or in Goostrey between 4.25pm and 4.40pm we are keen to hear from you.”

Anyone with information should contact police via 101 or cheshire.police.uk/contact/general-enquiries/

Alternatively information can be given anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

If you have dashcam footage you can submit it at cheshire.police.uk/advice-and-support/roads-and-vehicle-safety/submit-dashcam-footage/

If you have information on the Rode Heath robbery please use the reference IML 452991.

If you have information on the Goostrey robbery please use the reference IML 453099.