Neighbours name man shot dead in Bromsgrove armed robbery
Builder David Green, 59, said the Hodson-Walker family were originally from Wales and moved to the area several years ago.
Mr Green said Mr and Mrs Hodson-Walker were in their 50s, while Craig was in his 20s.
He said: "Everybody knows everybody here. They are a lovely family, just lovely people really. We always have a little chat."
Richard Lynton, 27, bar manager at the nearby Swan Inn, said: "All I know is that it was an armed robbery gone wrong.
"It's a family-run post office. It's a mother, father and their son. I didn't know them that well but they are a nice family."
Mr Lynton said there had been a robbery at the post office in the nearby village of Romsley in the last few months.
He added: "We are near the (M5) motorway so it is a quick getaway."
Gordon Witcomb, who lives two miles from the scene of the shooting, said the store is a popular village post office run by a young couple.
Mr Witcomb, who is chairman of the neighbouring parish council, said he was shocked but not surprised to hear of the robbery.
He said a convenience store in nearby Lickey End was held up for cigarettes and cash by armed hoodies in November.
One woman, who lives close to the scene of the shooting, said: "All we have seen were the helicopters going round.
"I have heard it was the post office and they have taken someone to hospital. It's a very nice area and we don't get any problems like this."
Detective Superintendent Jon Groves, of the major incident unit, said: "Significant resources have been committed to this inquiry, which is in its very early stages.
"We are appealing for anyone who saw the silver Golf in the area between the store and Bourneheath Road, where it was abandoned, to contact us."
Fairfield First School headteacher Helen Hedar said several young pupils had already arrived at the time of the incident.
But she said the school, which teaches children aged between four and nine, is set back from the road and does not overlook the shop.
Mrs Hedar said police officers have quizzed teachers and parents who were in the area.
She said: "We have had to close the school for the day and all children are being sent home.
"Everyone is absolutely fine. We are all safe. We had a few children who had arrived in the school when it happened. Everyone else was turned away."
Mrs Hedar added: "I did not see anything. We are quite secluded so no-one appears to have seen or heard anything."
A Post Office spokesman said: "We are shocked and appalled at this terrible attack against hard-working people serving the whole community and we are very concerned for the family and will be doing all we can to help them."
West Midlands Ambulance Service said it sent six vehicles and an air ambulance to the scene shortly before 8.30am.
A spokeswoman said: "When crews arrived they found two men who had been injured.
"Ambulance staff immediately started treating one man who had suffered serious multiple injuries and tried to stabilise his condition.
"Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of ambulance crews and the emergency doctors, nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene.
"The second man suffered a serious leg injury.
"Crews treated him at the scene before he was transferred by land ambulance to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham for further assessment and treatment."
