Three arrests over armed robberies across Manchester Published duration 19 February 2012

Three men have been arrested in connection with the armed robbery of a taxi driver in Manchester on Saturday.

An object was pressed into a taxi driver's back and a man ordered him to hand over his takings at about 18:55 GMT on Shrewsbury Street, Old Trafford.

Police arrested two men, both aged 18, and a 23-year-old man on suspicion of robbery shortly afterwards.

The trio were also arrested in connection with a series of armed robberies earlier on Saturday.

There were six incidents of personal robberies in the Manchester area between 01:25 GMT and 04:10.

Two imitation firearms were also later recovered, police said.

The robberies took place in Platt Fields Park, Ladybarn Lane, Withington, Derby Road, Fallowfield, on Moorfield Road, Withington, Barlow Moor Road and Manchester Road in Chorlton.

Supt Wasim Chaudhry said there would be a visible police presence in the areas where the incidents took place.

He said: "The victims have been left understandably shaken and I want to reassure the public that I have a team of detectives who will thoroughly investigate each and every incident."