Shoppers watched in horror as armed police arrested an armed robbery suspect in Brighton's busiest shopping street.

Police said they had arrested a man on suspicion of armed robbery after a suspect robbed a newsagent and post office were robbed this  morning 

The suspect was detained in North Street by firearms officers at 10.20am after a report of an attempted robbery at the post office in St James' Street at 9.05am and a robbery at 9.40am at Dyke Road News in Dyke Road.

A man armed with a gun demanded money at both locations. He left empty handed after staff refused at the post office but stole cash from the till at the newsagents.

An imitation firearm, a hammer and a lock knife were recovered at the scene of the arrest.

The city's shops' secutity guards the Brilliant Brighton Ambassadors helped. They tweeted a picture of the items found at the time of the man's arrest . 

Witnesses described seeing armed police accosting the man outside Waterstones. 

One witness told The Argus: "I saw a man tackled to the ground and was taken away by police. 

"People were saying he had a gun. 

"I asked a police officer what was happening but he wouldnt tell me anything. 

"People were pretty panicked."