A brave British pensioner smashed over the head with an axe by armed robbers yesterday thanked them for sparing his life – and told them to change their ways.

The 66-year-old, who has not been named, tried to protect a woman who was chased by the robbers into a Post Office to snatch her handbag.

He fought the offenders but was hit over the head with the axe, suffering a chipped skull that required nine stitches, following the raid at a Post Office in Salford on Monday.

Today police revealed dramatic footage of the attack and a letter from the victim, addressed: “To the axe-wielder who used it on me outside Boothstown Post Office.”

It reads: “I saw your eyes a couple of seconds after you used the axe on me. You weren’t panicking, you were calm.

“I think you said, ‘Sorry mate, only doing a job, but you’ll be alright.’

“I think you made a conscious decision and I thank you for allowing me to keep my life.

“Please don’t take this letter as being from a frightened old fuddy duddy.

“I’ll probably do the same again if it happens and I hope you get what you deserve for your actions, but I sincerely hope you can change your lifestyle.

“You’re worth more than this. Think of yourself, your parents and your family and pack it in and give yourself a chance of a life because if you don’t there will come a time when you meet someone like yourself, but he’ll be carrying a bigger axe.