POLICE investigating an early morning raid where an elderly shopkeeper was attacked with a broom have made three arrests.

Mohinder Devgan, 75, was working in the Lateshopper in Proudfoot Drive, Bishop Auckland, at 6am yesterday morning when he was confronted by a hooded thief claiming to have gun.

Mr Devgan fought the masked man with an iron shutter pole, but the thief attacked him with a broom handle before fleeing the scene with a box containing £200 which staff had saved for their Christmas party.

Mr Devgan, whose sons Raj and Sanjeev own the store, said he was protecting his family's livelihood, and although shocked by the incident, he was unhurt.

Police in Bishop Auckland have arrested two men from Shildon, aged 18 and 23, and a 16-year-old youth from Bishop Auckland, on suspicion of robbery.

The trio were being questioned at Bishop Auckland police station tonight.