SIX people were arrested in connection with a bank robbery after an armed siege in Liverpool.

A house in Cherry Lane, Walton, was cordoned off and residents ordered to remain indoors for two hours yesterday afternoon.

The drama began to unfold at 2pm several hours after a security guard, with cash for the ATM, was attacked outside a branch of Lloyds TSB in Cherryfield Drive, Kirkby. Merseyside Police confirmed that a “substantial amount” of money was in the stolen cash box.

The guard was treated in hospital after suffering a knife wound to his right arm before the raiders fled the scene.

A force spokesman said the area around the house in Walton was cordoned off a precautionary measure as it was believed a person in the property may have been armed.

A search of the property was continuing last night.

Three men, two aged 18 and 20 from Walton, have been arrested on suspicion of robbery.

A man and a woman from Walton, aged 54 and 36, have been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to rob.

A 24-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

A spokesman for Merseyside police said last night: “We can confirm that six people have been arrested following an armed robbery outside the TSB Bank in Kirkby.

“The arrests were made following an armed containment outside a house in Walton.

“All six have been taken to police stations across Merseyside where they will be interviewed.”