AN OXFORDSHIRE postmistress has been overwhelmed by support and gifts from residents after a frightening raid on her premises.

Shirley Johnson, who runs Launton Post Office, near Bicester, was locking up one afternoon in July when a man forced his way past her, emptied the till and made off with a “substantial” amount of cash.

The 67-year-old grandmother-of-three, who admits she has had some sleepless nights “waking up and reliving it”, said: “I was about to close up for lunch, so I unlocked the side door to go out, and suddenly this guy ran behind the counter.

“He pushed me back in through the doorway and grabbed the cash.

“He had his hood up and surgical gloves on and had parked right at the edge of the road in an old-style silver Astra.

“I recognised him because he had been in earlier on.”

Since then Mrs Johnson, a post mistress for 35 years, has been showered with kindness from the community, including the pupils of Launton CofE Primary School.

She said two women saw the incident and tried to follow the car but lost track of it and returned to the post office to tend to her.

She was fortunately unhurt but shaken by the incident.

Mrs Johnson said: “They came back and offered to make me a cup of tea, which is funny as it should have been me offering it to them.

“They were so lovely. I have been brought bunches of flowers and the community has been very kind. The local school even did a collection for me.

“They have been so wonderful, it really does help. I have just had people in the village coming in but flowers and cards being sent. People really have been so kind and supportive.

“We reopened the next day. It was important to come back then to get straight back to it.

“I would not have closed up for a while as I don’t want to do that to customers.

“I do feel nervous at closing but you have just got to get on with it.”

The shop has been raided before – about 21 years ago when Mrs Johnson was on holiday.