TWO East Lancashire men have appeared before magistrates in Loughborough charged with armed robbery.

Their arrests followed an incident involving armed officers on the outskirts of Sedbergh in south Cumbria on Wednesday when a lorry was found on fire on the A684 at Shackla Bank between junction 37 of the M6 and Sedbergh.

Police said a lorry was reportedly stolen from the Leicestershire area of Stretton le Heath on Monday.

The two men -- a 26-year-old from Rossendale and a 28-year-old from Accrington -- appeared alongside a 35-year-old Manchester man, who is charged with robbery and abduction.

Two further men, aged 52 and 47 from Manchester, have also been charged with robbery and abduction and have been released on police bail until May 24.