Arrests after store drama.

TWO men were arrested after an attempted robbery on a Teesside post office and convenience store.

The drama happened at around lunchtime yesterday at the Spar shop and post office on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown.

A Cleveland Police spokesman said two people were taken into custody yesterday afternoon to help with inquiries.

But he declined to confirm whether either or both of the would-be robbers were armed and if so, with what.

Staff in an adjacent hair salon yesterday said the first they knew was when they heard police cars turn up.

The police helicopter was also despatched to survey the scene.

The shop was closed for a time yesterday lunchtime while police continued their inquiries.

It's the third time in less than two years the same shop has been targeted.

In September 2008, two robbers - one armed with a knife - fled with cash. And in October 2007, a masked raider threatened staff with a large kitchen knife before stealing pounds 50 and cigarettes.

Staff at the shop said the owner, Sanjay Patel, wasn't available for comment yesterday.

Mr Patel, a former postman, took over the Birchington Avenue post office in 1995 and extended it in 2001 to include the Spar. The same year, he was named 'best customer care retailer' in the Asian Trader of the Year awards..

CAPTION(S):

THIRD TIME TARGETED: Police at the Spar shop and Post Office, on Birchington Avenue, Grangetown, right. The Spar shop which was the scene of an attempted robbery, below right Pictures by IAN McINTYRE