A 70-YEAR-OLD grandfather foiled a raid on his shop when he tackled one of the intruders head-on.

Barry Hanby did not hesitate when the three men walked into Woodlands Post Office, in Stutton Road, Tadcaster, just as he was about to close.

As two of the thieves kept him talking, he turned round to see their 6ft tall accomplice about to rifle the till.

Mr Hanby ran behind the counter, punched the astonished thief and the chastened trio fled through the door empty-handed.

Mr Hanby, who has five grandchildren, said today: "I was just locking up on Tuesday evening, but let them in after they asked for a magazine.

"Two of them started talking to me about some shelf items. It was obviously a ploy to distract me and I managed to get behind the counter before he could get his hands in the till. I took a swipe at him and hit him in the chest, knocking him back. Looking very stunned, he pushed me out of the way and all three legged it down the road."

Mr Hanby added: "He was a big lad and I thought afterwards that I shouldn't have had a go at my age.

"But it made my blood boil. I work hard for my money and there was no way they were going to get it for free.

"I'm just pleased they picked on the post office and not my shop next door where a girl was behind the counter. It would have frightened the poor lass to death."

Mr Hanby, whose four shops in Tadcaster have now all been broken into or held up by robbers, said he was sick and tired of being targeted.

The have-a-go hero was today praised by detectives, but they also warned people in a similar situation not to get involved.

Detective Sergeant Dave Pegg, of Selby CID, said: "I can understand Mr Hanby's frustration and admire his courage, but on a different day he could well have been injured."

* Detectives are linking the raid with another incident only two hours earlier at Cawood Post Office, where three suspicious men fled empty-handed after two customers entered the premises.

Updated: 14:57 Thursday, November 15, 2001