FIVE people have been arrested following an alleged armed robbery in Whitby which happened during the Tour de Yorkshire.

The robbery at Gouldbuy jewellery store on Flowergate happened at 12.30pm on Friday, May 1, as crowds gathered in the town to watch some of Europe’s top cyclists make their way through the town for the major race.

A man threatened staff with what was reported to be a gun and then left with a quantity of gold jewellery. Nobody was injured in the raid, but police said staff were understandably “very shaken up” by the incident.

North Yorkshire Police have arrested five people in connection with the robbery.

They include four men, two aged 18 and one aged 19 from Whitby, one aged 25 from Saltburn and a woman aged 21 from Saltburn.

They have been released on police bail while the investigation continues.