DORSET Police were called to the Co-operative store in Corfe Mullen on Sunday afternoon in response to a robbery.

Officers refused to say if a weapon was used in the raid or not, but they did confirm the suspect fled with an undisclosed amount of money.

A member of the public told the Daily Echo a knife was used in the raid, while another said a person had been injured.

However a spokesman for South West Ambulance Service said they had not been called to the scene.

Police swamped the local area afterwards, aided by the force helicopter, in a bid to locate the suspect.

A Dorset Police spokesman explained: “We were called to the Co-op store at Corfe Mullen at 1.45pm, following a robbery at the store.

“The suspect fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money.”

A male was detained in connection with the incident later in the afternoon.

Dorset Police said it would not release any further information at that time or respond to reports that a man had been taken to hospital.

The store, the larger Co-op store at the top end of Wareham Road, remained open until its normal Sunday closing time of 4pm.

Staff at the store confirmed the incident had taken place but refused to discuss any further details.