A grandfather today told how he fought off masked men wielding Samurai swords as they tried to rob his post office.

The two balaclava-wearing intruders took turns at slashing Alan Garratt with the three-foot long weapons at the Leicestershire branch, he said.

But they fled empty-handed after the 68-year-old, who had previously undergone surgery for a triple heart bypass, fought back with a sherry bottle.

The raid was captured on a CCTV camera, which was installed after a burglary at the post office, in Knipton, Leicestershire, just days earlier.

Mr Garratt needed eight stitches in his left arm after Monday evening's attack.

He told the Leicester Mercury: "I don't think they thought anyone would tackle them.

"I didn't really feel it when I was cut on the arm and hand until afterwards. There was blood everywhere.

"The only thing I could find to arm myself with was a bottle of sherry."

Officers are investigating the possibility that the raid and the burglary at the Main Street post office last Wednesday could be linked.

Detective Constable Pete Martin, from Melton CID, said: "Thankfully the cashier was not seriously injured but has obviously been shaken by what happened.

"We are actively looking into CCTV and making house-to-house inquiries in the area and it is important anyone who has any information regarding these incidents urgently gets in touch with us."

Detectives also want to talk to the occupants of a small, silver or grey car which was seen parked outside the post office on Wednesday November 26.

Det Con Martin added: "I would also like to reassure the community that incidents of this nature are rare in small villages such as Knipton and a full investigation is now under way with officers trying to piece together exactly what happened."