A PORTSMOUTH man has been arrested in connection with an attempted cashpoint robbery in Christchurch on Friday.

The female victim, who was in her fifties, refused to hand over cash when threatened with a large metal object outside the High Street branch of Nationwide, and the would-be robber fled the scene prompting a mass police search.

Dorset Police said the 51-year-old had not been charged was helping officers with their enquiries.