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

Nurinder Kaur needed stitches in her head after the attack 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 was waiting inside when she arrived to open up just after 8am on Wednesday. She was behind the counter when he walked up to her and started hitting her with the hammer after she refused to give him cash.

He fled the store with a quantity of cash in the direction of Northfield Road. The exact amount of money taken is not yet known.

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

She added the post office had been targeted six years ago when three men, carrying a gun and a hammer, stole money from the till.