OFFICERS from the Metropolitan Police's kidnap and specialist investigations unit arrested a man in Swanage.

 The arrest was linked to the closure of the Texaco petrol station in Victoria Avenue, which was cordoned off following a police swoop.

Dorset Police maintained a presence on-scene this morning, after neighbours reported the garage was shut down around 4pm the previous day.

Scotland Yard were giving few details away but they did confirm a 22-year-old man was arrested in Swanage as “part of ongoing enquiries.”

A Metropolitan Police spokesman insisted the arrest was not connected to any investigation relating to the killing of soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich.

According to witnesses there were at least four police cars on the garage forecourt on Monday morning. No members of staff appeared to be at the filling station.

One Swanage resident, who asked not be named, said: “There has been lots of rumours circulating since the police moved in, as you can imagine. I haven't seen anyone apart from police at the garage all day.

“I think the guy running it may be from the London area.

“When I asked an officer what was going on this morning, I was simply told the garage had been closed by order of the Metropolitan Police. It's the talk of town but no-one seems to know what has gone on.”

Dorset Police have referred all media enquiries to the Metropolitan Police.

A Met Police spokesman said: “We can confirm officers from the Metropolitan Police kidnap and specialist investigations unit have today arrested a 22-year-old man in the Swanage area as part of ongoing enquiries.”