Five people have been arrested after a police helicopter and dog unit were sent to Flackwell Heath in the early hours of this morning after reports of people attempting to smash shop doors with sledgehammers.

NPAS Benson was seen above the village from about 12.30am this morning, with a spotlight hovering above the area for about half an hour.

Officers were first called to Treadaway Hill after receiving report of people being spotted trying to enter a business unit by using sledgehammers to smash the door.

A police dog was also deployed to help with the search.

Five people, including a 19-year-old man and a 36-year-old man from Coventry, were arrested following the incident on suspicion of aggravated burglary with intent.

A 44-year-old man, a 27-year-old man and a 20-year-old man of no fixed abode were also arrested.

They are currently in custody.

It was the second incident in the quiet village in just three days, after explicit graffiti was sprayed across the window of an estate agents in Swains Lane on Saturday.