Police are hunting a woman who used a girl - thought to be as young as six - to help in a post office robbery.

The child was caught on CCTV security cameras taking cash from a till at Dalham post office near Newmarket, Suffolk. While this was going on, the woman distracted postmistress Patricia Catt, 88.

But when Mrs Catt challenged the girl, she was pushed aside by the woman and the two then escaped.

Police believe the woman may have used the young girl for a similar raid on the post office last year.

Inspector Steve Brown, of Suffolk Police, said: " The postmistress was not injured, but was left extremely distressed.

"The use of a child to rob an elderly woman is particularly dreadful.

"We do not know the child's circumstances, but any adult who coerces and manipulates a youngster in order to rob an elderly woman is to be condemned."

Police also believe this could have been the second time the youngster has been involved in robbing one of Britain's oldest post mistresses.

"We don't know for sure if the same child was involved this time as in August, but these crimes are very similar," Inspector Brown said.

Police said Mrs Catt, who was awarded an MBE in 1988 was soon to retire after 43 years.

A Post Office Counters spokesman said: "We are very concerned that a child as young as this should be involved in a robbery. I cannot recall a case involving anyone younger."

The girl is described as aged six to eight, with short dark hair and a navy blue jacket.

The woman is also white, aged between 30 and 40, about 5ft tall with short fair hair and wearing an anorak.