TWO men were being questioned by police last night following armed raids on small retail premises.

Meanwhile, police inquiries are continuing after a similar robbery at an off-licence in Stanley, County Durham.

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 about 9.45pm on Wednesday last week.

At Mills Newsagents, in Hilda Terrace, South Pelaw, Chester-le-Street, two raiders, one armed with a machete, threatened staff.

They warned customers to stay still and look away, before fleeing with several hundred pounds, on Sunday at about 9pm.

Detectives in Chester-le-Street arrested two men in their 20s from the Washington area yesterday. They were being questioned in connection with the Ouston South Pelaw incidents.

Meanwhile, detectives are still appealing for information from anyone in either vicinity around the times of the raids.

They are asked to call Chester-le-Street CID, on 0191-388 4311.

In 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 about 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 who has any information is asked to ring Stanley detectives on (01207) 232144, or the Crimestoppers freephone line, on 0800-555 1111.