A robber burst into a post office armed with a gun and demanded cash from the till, leaving the postmistress traumatised.

The offender entered Balcombe Post Office at about 12.15pm yesterday, pointed the gun at the woman behind the till and ordered her to fill a carrier bag with cash.

It is the second time the post office in the village, near Haywards Heath, has been raided in just over three years.

Indi Phakey, 47, who runs it, was terrified and shaken after the experience but has vowed it will not stop her serving.

She said: "I was alone in the shop when I heard the door go and someone come in. I was looking in one of my drawers at the time and when I looked up the man was already at the counter.

"I said 'Hello, how are you?' and then I saw the gun pointing at me.

"He was carrying a plastic bag, shoved it at me and said 'Put all the cash in the till in the bag. Do it quickly, sweetheart'.

"I wasn't going to argue with a gun pointing at me so I passed it to him.

"He turned round and walked out of the shop. I was totally stunned and traumatised."

After he left, Mrs Phakey, who lives in Crawley, rang an emergency alarm, which brought villagers rushing out of the shops and pubs on the main street.

She said: "I don't know how much money was taken. We won't know until the auditors come and see what is missing.

"It's so hard to imagine. You never think this sort of thing will happen to you.

"I'm just so glad there was no one else in the shop. A lot of pensioners and mothers with little children come in. It's only a tiny shop and when the doors shut you don't know what could be going on. It could have been a very different scenario - a lot worse.

"I was scared but I'm also really angry. I'm not going to let that man stop me from running the post office. So many people in the village depend on it."

Villagers were shocked at the robbery.

Anthea Bell, 55, who owns and runs Balcombe Stores with her husband Roger, 59, said: "It's just horrendous. We're all really worried for Indi. It's a terrible thing to happen to anyone.

"It's such a fantastic village and we're a very close community."

James Stone, 81, and his wife Joy, 78, had walked into the village to collect their pensions but found the post office closed.

Mr Stone said: "It's a horrible thing. We totally rely on the post office. Indi is fantastic and we all hope she'll be back soon."

Police are investigating.