POLICE probing events leading to the serious injury of a postmaster near Malvern have charged two men over raids on post offices in Bosbury and Much Marcle.

The men, both from south Wales, were arrested separately on Thursday, August 11, and Saturday, August 13, by officers investigating a suspected burglary at Hanley Swan Village Stores.

Postmaster Alan Davies was found "covered in blood" and in a confused state by his wife and is believed to have disturbed intruders on Wednesday night, August 10.

He suffered serious head injuries, believed to have been caused by a fall on to broken glass.

Mr Davies is in a critical condition in hospital and a £10,000 reward has been offered by the Post Office for information leading to the conviction of the those responsible.

Neither of the men arrested has been charged in connection with the incident.

The pair, Steven Lloyd and Michael Hitchings, both 19, from Aberdare, Mid-Glamorgan, have appeared before Worcester Magistrates' Court.

Both have been charged with burglary at Bosbury Post Office on July 30 and attempted burglary at Much Marcle Post Office on July 31. They also face a charge of burglary at The Stores, Welland, near Malvern, on July 30.

Hitchings will appear before the court again on Monday (August 22), while Lloyd has been bailed to return to court on September 26.

At Much Marcle, post-mistress Lynn Bowers disturbed burglars trying to break down the door at around 2.30am.

Awoken by the noise, she turned on the light and they fled. All she saw was a car's tail-lights disappearing.

A pane of glass in the door was smashed in the incident.

"It was pretty scary. We were very lucky nothing more happened," she said. "For a few days after, we were very nervous.

"I feel very sorry for the gentleman in Hanley Swan, you don't wish that on anybody. It's very disturbing."

She said it was the first incident in her 18 years at the post office.