The RUC believe they foiled an attempt to rob a post office in County Down during an incident in which two police cars were rammed.

Officers fired shots and three men were arrested during the incident at 0930 GMT on Monday at Front Road in Drumbo. No-one was injured.

Police had responded to a call from a member of the public who noticed three men acting suspiciously in a Vauxhaul Cavalier near the village post office.

When officers arrived at the scene, the driver of the Cavalier rammed two patrol cars.

Police fired two shots after one of the passengers pointed a handgun at them. A weapon was later recovered.

No paramilitary involvement

The RUC have ruled out any paramilitary involvement in the incident.

Front Road remains cordoned off as army technical officers examine the scene.

This is the second time in two months that Drumbo post office has been targeted.

There was a spate of post office raids just after Christmas which forced the closure of at least four premises.

Meanwhile, the Upper Falls Road post office in west Belfast has reopened, almost one month after it was closed following an armed robbery.

Staff were threatened by a man with a gun but were given time off to recover from the ordeal.

The post office has been closed to allow the damage to be repaired but a full service is now being restored.