A York police officer has been arrested by detectives understood to be investigating an armed robbery at a village post office.

The village post office at Burton-in-Lonsdale

The constable, who has not been named, is believed to have been arrested in York yesterday.

A terse statement issued by North Yorkshire police said: "North Yorkshire police can confirm that a male police officer was arrested yesterday. The matter for which he was arrested is not connected with his duties as a member of North Yorkshire police."

A police spokesman said later that the officer had been released on police bail without charge, and had now been suspended from duty.

The Evening Press understands that the investigation centres on a robbery at a post office at Burton-in-Lonsdale, near the Cumbrian border in the Yorkshire Dales, last September.

The robber struck at 9.15am on September 30 while three elderly customers waited to be served.

He produced a pistol-like firearm and demanded money. Some money was handed over and the robber fled in a red Ford Escort, which was driven by a blonde woman.

The postmaster, Malcolm Desoer, who was in the post office when the robbery took place, later said: "It was all such a shock. We just didn't expect it to happen."

The vehicle was displaying a registration number similar to E791 ERG and was found burnt out at a farm at Westhouse, near Ingleton.

The robbery followed another armed robbery at Barclays Bank, and an attempted robbery at a Midland Bank cashpoint, both at nearby Bentham, although it is understood these two raids are not now being connected to the Post Office robbery.

Detective Sergeant Mick Moore, who was involved in the investigation into the Post Office robbery, today declined to make any comment, referring the Evening Press to the force press office.

The arrest of the York officer has shocked and stunned colleagues at York. One fellow officer told the Evening Press: "I couldn't believe it when I heard he had been arrested. I thought it was a wind-up at first but it really is true."

The Police Federation today declined to make any comment on the matter.

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