ARMED police surrounded a house in Consett after a two masked men attempted to rob a post office - but found no-one inside.

The incident occurred at the Moorside Post Office near Consett around 2.30pm.

No one was hurt during the raid and it is not known if any weapons were used.

The two men ran off for about a mile before being spotted entering a property in Thornfield Road.

One man was arrested in the garden, but the second man is still at large, and was believed to be holed up in the house, which is in The Grove area.

Police sent a dog into the property shortly before 7pm, and then stormed the house, but found it to be empty.

Do you have photos of the police operation? Contact The Northern Echo at newsdesk@nne.co.uk