Children held at gunpoint during robbery

Two five-year-old girls have been left shocked after being held at gunpoint during a robbery yesterday morning.

The girls were sitting in the back seat of a car while one of their father's went into a shop on Ardoyne Avenue in north Belfast at around 9am.

When he returned, a gunman had climbed into the car and was sitting beside the two girls.

The gunman then ordered him to drive to his wife's place of work at the Flax Centre on the Ardoyne Road, where she was called outside and told to remove a sum of money from the post office.

While she did this, the man was forced to drive the car around the area, while the gunman remained in the back of the vehicle with the children. After receiving the money, he was dropped off at Stratheden Street, where he made off on foot.

No one was injured during the incident, however all involved were left badly shaken by the ordeal.

Police have appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have seen the silver coloured Volkswagen Passat in the Ardoyne area on Monday to contact them on 0845 600 8000, or on the Crimestoppers number on 0800 555 111.

(EF/SP)