Robbers raided Silsden Post Office while a newly-installed CCTV camera pointed the wrong way.

In its first major test since its installation in Briggate in May, Silsden's closed circuit camera failed to catch thieves raiding the Kirkgate shop

During the incident, at 8.30am on Wednesday, two men attacked the post master and escaped with cash.

District councillor Andrew Mallinson, who was instrumental in bringing the high-tech camera to the town, said the CCTV control room in Bradford assured him the camera was in operation, but had been working on a cycle.

He said: "Unfortunately it had moved from looking at the Post Office 15 minutes before it was attacked.

"It's a blow, but police will be looking at the tape to see if they can find any evidence of the attackers."

The two intruders, one a white man in his late thirties/early forties, of medium height and build, physically restrained the lone postmaster and stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the safe.

They left the employee badly shaken but unhurt. It is not known whether a vehicle was used in the attack.

Silsden Business Watch has been campaigning for security cameras in the town since 2001 in a bid to cut vandalism and anti-social behaviour. Chairman Gaynor Thomas said she was disappointed the camera had not managed to catch the culprits.

She said: "This proves that we need more than one camera."

She added: "We were only given a demonstration of the camera on Monday and we felt it had already reduced the amount of drunken violence and windows being smashed."

The camera, which can rotate, zoom and focus on a desired subject, is one of three acquired by Bradford Council in its fight against crime.

Silsden is taking part in a three-month pilot, after which it will be decided whether the town would benefit from it becoming a permanent fixture.

Liz Trainor, chairman of the neighbourhood police tasking group, said: "It's just a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's hit and miss with CCTV so we can't blame it."

She added that she was very impressed with the speedy turn out of the police to the scene.

A full forensic examination of the scene has taken place and officers conducted house-to-house inquiries in the area.

DI Shaun Berry, of Keighley CID, said: "There would have been a lot of people in Kirkgate at about that time, both pedestrians and passing motorists, and I am appealing for anyone who was there at about 8.30am to contact Keighley Police Station on 01535 617059."