Armed officers from Essex Police were called to deal with an incident in Braintree.

Officers were called to the roundabout near Wyevale Garden Centre, Braintree, on Saturday at around 2pm.

Essex Police were working on intelligence from Suffolk Constabulary, and witnesses reported several marked and unmarked police cars were called to the area.

A spokesman for Suffolk Constabulary said: “Suffolk Police were called at 12.40pm on Saturday, February 10, to reports of a shoplifting incident at Halfords in Byford Road, Sudbury.

“A man entered the shop and stole a stereo amplifier, running out of the building pursued by members of staff, before getting into a white Ford Transit van.

“Members of the public in the car park witnessed the staff members giving chase and attempted to block the van in with their vehicle, but it ultimately drove off in the direction of Sudbury town centre.

“Just before 2.30pm the same afternoon, officers from Essex Police stopped a van on the A120 near to Galleys Corner in Braintree in connection with this incident.

“A 26-year-old man from Braintree and an 18-year-old man of no fixed abode, were subsequently arrested and taken into police custody for questioning.

“They have both been released under investigation pending further enquiries.”