Police foiled an alleged armed robbery at a Sheffield petrol station after calling in for a drink.

A man wearing a balaclava and armed with a hammer jumped over the counter at City Road Service Station and grabbed bags of cash at around 12.20pm on Wednesday 30 November.

But police who happened to be pulling in to the shop to buy a drink arrested a man outside after staff pressed the panic button.

Police tweeted following the incident: “One detained for armed robbery, City Rd @SYPSheffield. Just robbed shop as officers went to buy a drink. Disarmed and arrested. Enq ongoing.”

A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “Police were called to the Texaco petrol station on City Road, Sheffield, at around 12.20pm this afternoon (Wednesday 30 November) after it was reported a man, who is believed to have been armed with a hammer, attempted to take money from the petrol station.

“A 47-year-old man was arrested by police at the scene and has been taken into custody. No one was injured in the reported robbery and the petrol station has now reopened.”