Two men responsible for an attempted armed robbery of a Post Office in Biggin Hill have been jailed.

Christopher Heath, 35, of North Walk, New Addington, and Anthony Patton, 31, of no fixed abode left empty-handed after a brave Post Office worker hit her panic alarm.

The Met's Flying Squad began an investigation after the attempted robbery at the McColl's Post Office in Biggin Hill, Kent on September 9.

Croydon Crown Court heard how a female member of staff arrived at the shop at 5.15am and, an hour later, two men wearing balaclavas entered the store.

The two men demanded the keys to the safe but the employee said she did not have them.

One of the men, who was armed with a handgun, hit her with the weapon on the right side of her face.

The member of staff then told the two men she had pressed her panic alarm and the police were on their way.

Heath and Patton then fled empty-handed.

The victim was taken to hospital for treatment to her injuries, which included heavy bruising to the right side of her face.

Flying Squad detectives analysed mobile phone data and used CCTV evidence to identify Heath and Patton.

On September 19 police searched at an address in New Addington linked to Heath and recovered a black Glock style handgun and a round of ammunition.

The handgun was the same one used in the attempted robbery.

On the same day, at a different address linked to Heath, officers also found two balaclavas and a pair of gloves. These were linked to Heath and Patton.

Heath was arrested on September 29 2016 at an address in Forest Hill.

A number of searches were carried out on addresses linked to Patton before he handed himself in on November 1.

Detective Constable Dan Beek, of the Met's Flying Squad, said: "I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of the Post Office employee who alerted police to this crime by pressing her panic alarm. She was threatened and assaulted by Heath and Patton but, as a result of her courage, they left empty-handed.

"The Flying Squad acted quickly to identify these two men and arrest them. The significant custodial sentences reflect the seriousness of using a firearm with an intention to commit a robbery."

Heath pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and having an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence at Croydon Crown Court in March.

Patton was found guilty of attempted robbery and having an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence after a trial in July.

Both were sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Monday, 4 September.

Heath was sentenced to a total of eight years' imprisonment.

Patton was sentenced to five years' in jail, to run consecutively to a 10-year term of imprisonment he was given in April, after he admitted a conspiracy to commit residential and non-residential burglaries, conspiracy to commit theft of motor vehicles and robbery.