Five teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of holding up shop staff with meat cleavers and a firearm after armed West Midlands Police stopped their suspected getaway car.

Officers were alerted to the robbery at Co-Op in Overfield Road, Russells Hall, just before 10pm last night (April 11) that saw five masked men escape with cash, alcohol and cigarettes.

Firearms units were deployed to the scene and, around 30 minutes later, forced a vehicle to stop in nearby Merryfield Road and arrested the five occupants.

Three 17-year-olds – from Wednesbury, Kingswinford and Dudley – plus a 16-year-old from Quarry Bank and an 18-year-old man from Brierley Hill were all arrested on suspicion of robbery. Sergeant Stuart Birtwistle from Dudley Police’s Investigation Team, said:

“This was undoubtedly a shocking experience for the staff…thankfully no-one was injured but the psychological impact of being caught up in such an incident can’t be underestimated.

“We had response and firearms officers on the scene quickly and armed colleagues did a great job in locating a car believed to have been involved. All five are in police custody for questioning; some of the suspected stolen goods have been recovered but searches are on-going at properties linked to the suspects.”