POLICE were questioning two men following armed raids around Chester-le-Street and were looking for others after a similar raid at Stanley off-licence.

In the first incident three masked men escaped with £200 in cash and £800-worth of mobile phone cards after threatening a cashier with a large knife at Ouston Filling Station, at around 9.45pm on Wednesday last week.

Two men, one armed with a machete, threatened staff and warned customers to remain still and look away, before fleeing Mills Newsagents on Hilda Terrace, South Pelaw, with several hundred pounds on Sunday at around 9pm.

Detectives in Chester-le-Street arrested two men in their 20s from the Washington area this Wednesday.

They were being questioned about the two robberies, one in connection with the Ouston raid and the other about the South Pelaw incident.

Stanley police are still looking for a man who escaped with cash after threatening staff with a knife at Booze Buster in the town's Front Street on Saturday at around 9.30pm.

He was described as 6ft 4in, with short fair hair, and was wearing a blue NATO-style jumper, blue trousers and khaki trainers.

Anyone with information on any of the of the raids should ring Chester-le-Street CID on (0191) 388 4311, Stanley CID on (0207) 232144, or Crimestoppers on 0800-555 1111.