A pensioner has died eight days after being pushed over by a knife-wielding robber at her local post office.

The 68-year-old woman was pushed to the ground during the raid on the sub post office in Jengers Mead, Billingshurst, last Wednesday.

The customer, who will be named by police later today, was shaken by the attack as she stood at the counter at 10.30 a.m. on one her regular visits to the post office.

The robber fled empty-handed, slashing a male customer's arm with the knife. Both customers were taken to St Richard's Hospital, Chichester, after the raid but were allowed home after treatment.

The woman pensioner was shocked by the incident and spent days recovering at home.

Yesterday, after complaining of chest pains, she collapsed and died at her home in Billingshurst.

A police spokesman said: "We are arranging a post mortem for today to ascertain the circumstances of her death.

"We will not be releasing her name at the family's request until after the post mortem.

"The Home Office pathologist may require further tests."

A man was arrested by police last week in Horsham in connection with the attempted robbery.

He was interviewed and released on police bail.