FIVE people are being questioned in connection with two armed robberies.

On Tuesday afternoon, two men burst into Langley Park Post Office on Front Street and threatened staff and customers with knives. They escaped with cash.

Soon after police recovered items believed to have been used in the robbery from close to the University Hospital of North Durham.

Two hours earlier two men had threatened staff at the Sunderland Housing Group offices in Shiney Row with a knife. They fled empty handed with a female accomplice, apparently on foot.

On Tuesday night, an operation by Durham and Northumbria police resulted in a man and a woman being arrested in Hetton-le-Hole.

Police said a white Nissan Sunny believed to have been used in the second robbery had been recovered. Later two more men and a woman from the Hetton area, were taken into custody.

At the time the Advertiser went to press the five were being questioned at Consett and Durham Police Stations.