A cash reward put up by The Press in York following a post office robbery has helped police to make five arrests.

The Press offered a £1,000 – which quickly swelled to more than £7,500 after readers and local businesses added to it – for information leading to the arrest and conviction of raiders who held-up 74-year-old sub-postmaster Brian Fletcher, hitting him in the face.

Detectives said the arrests came after they had received several calls from the public in the wake of the Press offer, with three people arrested in the York area on Monday and another two yesterday.

Detective Constable Ian Murray, of York CID, said all five had been interviewed and then released on police bail, pending further inquiries “of a forensic and technical nature”.

He said the rewards appeared to have proved “very helpful” in encouraging people to come forward with information.

Robbers forced sub-postmaster Brian to the floor last week and tried to gouge his face and eyes, escaping with a substantial amount of cash.

Kevin Booth, editor of The Press, said: “Brian is immensely well respected within the community and people have been appalled and disgusted by the violent attack on him. That was reflected in the way our reward quickly snowballed to £7,500.”

Brian is a former York Community Pride winner, an awards scheme started by The Press three years ago to mark the contribution of the city’s unsung heroes. He was nominated because of the courteous help he offers to customers at his post office.