DETECTIVES have this afternoon arrested a man in connection with gunpoint robberies in Hampshire.

The 44-year-old man is being held in custody awaiting questioning by detectives concerning armed raids in Brockenhurst and the Lymington area.

As reported, the gunman first struck on December 4 around 6.30am at brockenhurst railway station when he kidnapped the driver of a Porsche as he parked up in the station car park.

He then ordered him back into his car and drove off, eventually taking him to the HSBC bank in the nearby village and demanding he withdraw a significant amount of money.

He then dumped the man in a remote car park in Rhinefield Road and left the Porsche a couple of miles away near a track and railway bridge just outside Sway.

The second incident happened six days ago when he struck again - this time at the home of an elderly couple in Rookes Lane, Lymington.

It was mid-morning last Friday December 14 when he carried out the armed robbery and stole £100 before kidnapping the woman and holding her hostage in her own car.

After around ten minutes he drove her back to her home and then fled in her Peugeot 207 which he abandoned in a nearby road.

Police this afternoon confirmed the man being held is from the Lymington area on suspicion of robbery.

Two other men, a 48-year-old from Lymington and a 44-year-old from New Milton, remain on police bail after they were arrested last Sunday.

DCI Stuart Murray said: “This is just one line of enquiry that is currently being pursued and we thank the general public for their support so far, but continue to ask anyone with information to please contact us.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Operation Prenton team on 101.