A BRADFORD postmaster has told how the birth of his daughter has been overshadowed by ram-raiders who caused massive damage to his post office.

Ansar Ratyal was attending the weddings of two nephews in Pakistan when the raiders struck at Peel Park Post Office, in Airedale Road, Undercliffe, in the early hours of Friday.

The villains used a Mitsubishi Shogun 4x4 vehicle to ram the front of the post office in a failed bid to steal the ATM cash machine. A large section of the stone wall was smashed and the cash machine badly damaged.

The post office is closed to the public while repairs are made, but Mr Ratyal vowed to reopen for customers in the near future.

He said yesterday: "I am fully committed to opening the post office as soon as possible. We have started the process of repairs and I am meeting the insurance assessors.

"Realistically, it will be a minimum of seven days and up to ten days until we are able to open, but I am hoping that miracles do happen and we can do it in two or three days.

"The priority is to allow me access to the post office. The property is boarded up and has been temporarily propped up. We will know soon what permanent repairs are needed and whether that may involve girders or lintels.

"I have told the insurers my priority is for me to be able to open up the post office and provide my customers with a service."

Mr Ratyal, 40, said that while he was away on holiday, his wife, Nazia, had given birth to their daughter, Hamna.

He said: "I was so excited about it and couldn't wait to get back home to see her. Now that excitement has completely gone. The pressures and concerns and worries over the ram-raid have overtaken that, which is a shame."

He said the post office, which he has run for four years, had only recently been refurbished.

Mr Ratyal added: "It is a busy post office with a loyal and happy customer base."

The Mitsubishi was driven off towards Barkerend Road. The suspects have not been located, but a grey Mitsubishi 4x4 was found burned out in Newlands Place, Undercliffe.

Mr Ratyal said police had taken away CCTV footage and they had said that two suspects had run away down a ginnel and then caught a taxi, while the other had set fire to the 4x4.

A police spokesman said the burned out vehicle recovered was likely to be the one involved in the incident.

Anyone who saw a dark Mitsubishi before or shortly after the raid should contact Bradford District CID via 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.