Fairfield Post Office Armed Robbery (BBC NEWS)

Three armed robbers are on the run after a man was shot dead at a post office in a small Worcestershire village. Craig Hodson-Walker, 29, died after being shot in the chest at 8.20am, West Mercia Police said. A second man was shot in the leg during the incident at Fairfield Stores in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. Three robbers are on the run following the incident at Fairfield Stores in Stourbridge Road, FairfieldA police spokeswoman said: "Initial information is that there were three offenders wearing balaclavas and armed with a handgun and a sledgehammer. It is believed they were in a silver VW Golf, which has since been found abandoned nearby." Detective Superintendent Jon Groves said: "Significant resources have been committed to this inquiry, which is in its very early stages. "We are appealing for anyone who saw the silver Golf in the area between the store and Bourneheath Road, where it was abandoned, to contact us." Glenys Blackmoor, who lives nearby, said: "It is a very well-run shop by really pleasant people. They are a really nice, open sort of family. It is a just a small village, just a cluster around a main road. You are through it in the blink of an eye. This is very nasty." Post Office Ltd condemned the shooting. A spokesman said: "We are shocked and appalled at this terrible attack against hard-working people serving the whole community and we are very concerned for the family and will be doing all we can to help them." Fairfield is close to the M5 and M42 motorways, with some residents commuting to Birmingham and Worcester. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION PLEASE CALL WEST MERCIA POLICE ON 0300 333 3000 http://itn.co.uk/news/0497a86333aeb8fc3890d8788c70442d.html