THE POLICE helicopter and five patrol cars are searching for a suspected robber on the run on the outskirts of Darlington.

Two young men who are believed to have been involved in a robbery in Barnard Castle were chased by police to High Coniscliffe, where they abandoned their car and tried to run away.

One of the men was arrested after the car was stopped at St Edwin's Church near High Coniscliffe School.

The second man is still at large.

A spokesman for Darlington Police said the men are believed to have attempted a smash and grab raid at a jewellers in Barnard Castle.

"We have had an attempted robbery at a jewellers in Barnard Castle at 10am," he said.

"A man threw a brick through the window of Barnard Castle Jewellers in Galgate, causing £500 worth of damage, and attempted to grab diamond rings from the display.

"There were two rings missing from the display when the crime scene investigators examined the scene, but both were found nearby. One was found in a crack in the pavement.

"The men fled in a black Fiat Punto. Details were collected and 20 minutes later the vehicle was abandoned in High Coniscliffe and the occupants ran away.

"One man was arrested not far from the scene and is being detained in cells at Bishop Auckland. The other man is still at large."

See tomorrow's paper for a full report