FIVE people have been arrested in Calne following an armed robbery on a community run post office in Oaksey yesterday.

Two men carrying a firearm entered Oaksey Village Shop and Post Office at approximately 7.30am and stole a quantity of cigarettes and cash.

Police dog Billie and his handler PC Phil Thom, who just days earlier tracked down a dangerous driver who failed to stop in Devizes, helped make the arrests after the gang was spotted near Priestley School.

One worried parent spoke of her shock at seeing the police swoop on suspects.

She said: “I was doing the normal school run and I saw a number of police cars near the school and armed policemen dressed in black waiting outside a house.

“There was no one ushering people away from the area and I was concerned about having to walk my child past.

“There was a lot going on and Police were also checking vehicles leaving the area but we had no idea what was happening and other parents were trying to find out too.

“I would have thought they would have informed the school before doing anything, especially if there was a weapon inside as you don’t know what people are capable of in this day and age.”

Information from Calne led police to the scene where a 19-year-old man from Swindon was arrested on suspicion of armed robbery and a 20-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested for suspicion of armed robbery and possession of cannabis.

Additionally, a woman aged 44, a man aged 22 and a man aged 38 all from Calne were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and a firearm was seized.

Most Oaksey villagers were unaware that the post office, which is owned by the Oaksey Village Shop Association on behalf of the village, had been targeted and many turned up to find it had been closed.

Polly Morton of Earls Corner said: “I walked to play group this morning and I saw all the police but I didn’t know what had happened. It felt really eerie.

“It is not very nice and I saw the girl from the post office who looked very shaken. The village is normally quite quiet and not very exciting. I thought about it earlier and they must have felt so scared and alone.”

Resident Phil Moore, who lives behind the post office, did not hear anything and only found out that there had been an incident when he left his house at 9am.

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “This was an excellent example of team work between Tri-force officers, as well as local Neighbourhood Policing officers which has led to the swift arrest of five individuals. They are currently in custody and our enquiries are continuing this morning.”

Anyone with information should call 101.