POLICE investigating an armed robbery and kidnap in the New Forest have made two arrests.

A 48-year-old Lymington man was detained on suspicion of robbery and aggravated burglary yesterday following an incident in which a woman was robbed of £100 and forced to drive around Lymington at gunpoint.

Last night he was released on bail until January 11 2013, pending further enquiries.

A 44-year-old New Milton was arrested on suspicion of robbery last night and remains in police custody. Detectives are expected to continue to question him today.

The arrests follow a robbery at a house in Rookes Lane, Lymington, on Friday.

It is being linked to a similar incident at Brockenhurst railway station on December 5 in which a motorist was forced at gunpoint to drive to a HSBC bank in the village and withdraw a large sum of money.

The head of New Forest police, Chief Inspector Tony Rowlinson, today urged people to contact police if they suspected that a friend or relative was involved in the robberies.

He said: “I would like to thank members of the public for their response to our appeals. Information received over the weekend gave detectives new leads which had to be followed sensitively as well as swiftly.

“It's important to stress that no-one has been charged or convicted at this time, so we continue to follow up many lines of enquiry in connection with this investigation and remain open-minded.

“I would therefore renew my appeal to any family or friends who think they may have information, no matter how insignificant it may appear, to contact us and tell us what you know.

“We appreciate that can be an exceptionally difficult moral decision for a loved one but information can be given anonymously by phoning Crimestoppers on 0800 555 11.

“Although we have information to suggest that these two men could provide us with vital information detectives have many more enquries to complete before we reach any conclusions.

“For that reason I would urge the public to continue supporting the investigation by telling us what they know.

“Identifying and charging whoever was responsible for this robbery remains my policing priority and all of us in the community have a vital role in working to achieve that result as soon as possible.”

Call CID at Southampton Central police station on 101.