ARMED police swooped on a street as a robbery bid suspect was arrested.

The 24-year-old man was arrested in Preston New Road, near Blackburn town centre, at 9am today.

Earlier armed police had raided a home in Fishmoor Drive, Highercroft, in the search for the suspect.

On each occasion armed officers from the support unit, along with detectives and uniformed police were involved.

The action followed an attempted armed raid on the Guide Post Office on Tuesday morning.

The incident on Tuesday saw a man dressed in black with a hat pulled down over his face enter the post office in Haslingden Road and threaten shop worker Louise Mitchell, who was working on her own at the time.

She has been praised after standing up to the raider.

She refused to hand over any cash and hit a panic alarm, alerting police.

The robber fled on a bicycle which he had left outside the Haslingden Road shop.

Police helicopter scoured the area for an hour police said they believed he fled to Belthorn and may have transferred to another vehicle.

The post office was closed after the raid at 9am on Tuesday but re-opened the following day with Louise again behind the counter.

Detective Sergeant Adrian McHugh said the arrest came as a result of police inquires after a series of public appeals for information.

Officers said the man, who is being questioned on suspicion of attempted robbery, does not live at the address in Fishmoor Drive but is from Blackburn.

Anyone with information should call police on 0845 1 25 35 45 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.