Two armed men who threatened staff at a Starbucks were unwittingly met by police who were getting coffee in the drive-thru.

A 29-year-old man was arrested after the incident at 5am in Northamptonshire, dubbed “coppercino” by the police force’s armed response vehicle unit.

They said officers were confronted with “violent resistance”, adding that staff had been threatened with weapons and cash was stolen.

The force said the pair “didn’t account for armed officers sat in the drive-thru ordering a coffee”.

The man was arrested on suspicion of robbery but the second suspect made off from the scene, the force added.

A spokeswoman said the investigation into the incident at Towcester Road is on-going.