FIVE people have now been arrested after post office staff were threatened by armed robbers with a sword last night.

Police are appealing for help to find a red Ford Escort, reg V82 NEL, in connection with the incident.

Police sealed off Hurn Post Office at Matchams Lane after the incident at around 3.30pm, before the drama moved to the Ringwood area.

Follow our live updates from last night

Two men from Liverpool, aged 24 and 26, a 22-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman, both from Ferndown, and a 31-year-old woman from Wimborne have been arrested in connection with this incident and are helping officers with their enquiries.

Detective Constable Stefanie Belton, of Dorset Police CID, said: “I am appealing for witnesses and anyone with information about this incident to contact police as soon as possible.

“I am particularly keen to locate a vehicle, a red Ford Escort with the registration number V82 NEL, in connection with this incident.

“Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of this car should contact Dorset Police urgently.”

The post office remains closed today.

A Dorset Police spokesman said staff were threatened by two men, who took cash, the amount of which has not been revealed, and fled in a car.

Nobody was injured and officers searched the scene following the raid.

Some hours later, armed officers were seen at David Lloyd Leisure Centre in Christchurch Road, Ringwood, as officers searched the wider area.

Mark Rideout, who was sitting in the David Lloyd clubhouse, said: “I was sitting in the clubhouse and then somebody ran through.

“My first thought was that they were running to help someone from the lake.

“Then I saw that he was being followed by police and that he actually jumped into the lake.

“They fished him out and brought him back through the club.”

Olly Driscoll, aged 20, from Burley, was fishing in the lake behind the David Lloyd centre.

“I was just reeling in a fish when I heard a bit of commotion behind me and then I just saw this guy go in the water.

“And then about 20 policemen came past me. One policeman was shouting: ‘Where is he? Where is he?’ “He was in the water up to his neck.

“When they saw him, he surrendered and the police got him out.”

Another club member said he understood that a second person had ran off into fields and was being pursued by the police.

Hurn resident Bob Stride said: “I heard about it from my daughter and saw the police outside.

“I am just concerned for anybody who works in the shop.”

Another couple who were out walking their dog said they too were shocked at the raid.

Hurn’s parish, district and county councillor Margaret Phipps said the incident was “absolutely dreadful”.

“It’s very concerning indeed.

“I understand that everyone who was in there at the time is all right and that’s the main thing, but it’s very, very troubling that this sort of thing happens,” she said.

Police are appealing for witnesses to phone 101, quoting incident number 30:302.

It is the second time in recent years that the Post Office has been targeted.

In June 2008 robbers escaped with hundreds of pounds after firing a gun.