A hammer-wielding robber hit a Black Country post office clerk over the head when she refused to hand over cash during a terrifying raid.

Nurinder Kaur needed stitches in her head after the raid at the store in Halesowen Road, Netherton, which also left her with bruising to her arms and shoulders.

The 54-year-old said the attacker got into the shop through the ceiling and was waiting inside when she arrived to open up just after 8am on Wednesday.

He fled the store with a quantity of cash in the direction of Northfield Road.

Mrs Kaur, who has worked at the post office for more than 10 years, said: “It was a shock. He just started hitting me. I needed to go to hospital.”

Det con Dan Bailey from Brierley Hill CID said: “Halesowen Road, around the area of the Post Office, would have been very busy at the time of the robbery and we urge motorists and people who were in the area yesterday morning to call us with any information they may have.”

The attacker is described as white, aged in his mid 20s, of slim build, between 5ft 2ins and 5ft 6ins tall, and wearing a black hooded top with the hood up.

Anyone with information should call 0845 113 5000.