POLICE launched a major investigation into an incident which took place at a village post office this afternoon.

Speculation among villagers in Cockfield, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, is that the post office has been the target of an attempted armed robbery, but police were unable to confirm this.

Police said the incident at the post office, in Front Street, took place at about 5.45pm.

Several officers, some with dogs, were sent to the scene. An ambulance was also sent to the post office and it is understood the force helicopter was deployed.

It is believed officers have been reviewing CCTV footage from the village.

One resident said he had never seen anything like it in Cockfield and added: "It's the talk of the village."

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "I can confirm there was an incident at the post office late this afternoon and police are investigating, but I can't confirm the nature of the incident."