A SECOND man has been arrested in connection with the Deane robbery spree.

Police arrested a second suspect this evening after a wave of knife robberies in and around Deane Church Lane, Deane.

The crimes started on Thursday and went on until Sunday.

A woman was also attacked from behind in St Helens Road, Daubhill, this afternoon but police did not say whether it was linked to the other incidents.

The woman, in her 50s, was not seriously injured but was said to be suffering from shock.

Robberies have been carried out at nearby KC Top Shop newsagents in Deane Church Lane, Deane, robberies at Talking Heads in Deane and at Cabello for Hair in Wigan Road.

Two street robberies have also taken place in the area, one in the early morning on Thursday and one on Saturday evening.

The arrest is thought to have taken place at about 5pm this evening when witnesses reported police swarming into Back Deane Church Lane where a man was seen being arrested.

Another suspect, a man, aged 33, was arrested on suspicion of the robberies yesterday morning. He was released on bail.