POLICE are to hold a public meeting to reassure the fearful residents of a Gwent town hit by three armed robberies in the past five months.

They have stepped up high-visibility patrols in Usk and are keeping the town's police station open throughout the day for the next week, said Superintendent Jon Burley said last night.

He said: "We have already increased the visibility of patrols there and are giving premises advice if we consider they are vulnerable to attack when they ask for help.

"I will be holding a public meeting regarding the recent robberies and policing issues." He said that at the time of the two most recent robberies, there was a police officer in Usk.

Residents have been left reeling by Tuesday night's armed robbery at the Spar store in Bridge Street during which terrified customers were forced to lie on the floor by three masked raiders armed with a handgun and baseball bat.

That comes two weeks after raiders armed with a handgun robbed the nearby Bridge Street post office, and five months after Jason Gundy, 33, was robbed at knifepoint of goods worth £100,000 at his home in Llanbadoc. Today, in an exclusive interview, he reveals he is now considering moving away.

Supt Burley revealed that the heroism of a retained firefighter who tackled the robbers on Tuesday may have led them to drop a Walther gas-powered air pistol outside the store.