SUFFOLK police were today continuing to investigate whether three post office raids across the county with four hours were linked.

SUFFOLK police were today continuing to investigate whether three post office raids across the county with four hours were linked.

A hunt was launched yesterday after shotgun-wielding robbers burst into East Bergholt Post Office and Store in The Street at about 6.20am.

The balaclava-clad trio threatened staff with a sawn-off shotgun, crow bar and baseball bat before herding them into the back of the shop and ordering owner Alec Gardner to hand over money.

The terrifying scene followed an earlier incident in which ram raiders smashed their way into Wickhambrook Post Office, near Haverhill, using a pick-up truck in a bid to steal the safe.

And just a short while later, raiders struck at Assington Farm Shop and Post Office, near Sudbury, and made off with a stack of cigarettes.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk Police said the force was keeping “an open mind” as to the possibility of a link between the robbery in East Bergholt and the raids at both Assington and Wickhambrook post offices.

A trail of destruction was left by a gang at Wickhambook Post Office, near Haverhill, after the raiders broke a hole in the wall using a pick up truck in their bid to steal the safe.

A short while later, a gang struck at Assington Farm Shop and Post Office, near Sudbury, from which they made off with a stack of cigarettes.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said the offenders reversed a grey Toyota pick-up truck into the brick wall of Wickhambrook Post Office. It left substantial damage - but the raiders were disturbed and did not steal anything.

The police spokeswoman added: “We are looking at the possibility of a link and we have to keep an open mind. We not ruling out a link.”

One resident of The Street in East Bergholt, who did not wish to be named, said: “I hate to see things like this happening where I live. I've been in this village all my life. It's a lovely village and nothing like this has happened before.”

And South Suffolk MP Tim Yeo, who lives in the village, expressed his shock at the incident.

“It brings home to people the extent to which violence has spread outside towns and to rural villages. I have been living here for 20 years and it's the last place I would have expected this to happen.”

Three police cars and a scene of crime van were present outside the store throughout yesterday morning. A road next to it was sealed off while investigations were carried out.

Anyone who has any information on the East Bergholt incident should call DS Andy Footer at Sudbury CID on 01284 774332 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.