A 17-year-old youth has been arrested in connection with an attempted armed robbery on a County Durham post office.

The arrest followed an operation by armed police officers in the Barnard Castle area on Sunday morning.

The attempted robbery took place at the Toft Hill Post Office, near Bishop Auckland, on Saturday at around 9.30am.

Durham Police say the youth was arrested on suspicion of attempted armed robbery and has since been released on police bail.

A silver Vauxhall Omega, thought to have been used as his getaway car, was found in the Hamsterley area.

The male entered the post office wearing a motorcycle helmet and dark clothing brandishing an object wrapped in a bag which he said was a gun.

He then demanded money from post mistress Sheila Mulgrew who was in the building on her own.

The man jumped over a children's security gate and hit Ms Mulgrew in the face and got involved in a violent struggle with her.

He then ran from the building when a customer entered and escaped empty handed.

Ms Mulgrew was treated for facial bruising and scratches at Bishop Auckland General Hospital on the same day.

The post office was shut for the rest of the day as police carried out investigations.