A Texaco petrol station in Dorset has been sealed off by police as part of an operation by the Metropolitan Police Kidnap and Specialist Investigations Unit.

The garage in Victoria Avenue, Swanage, was reported to have been closed down at 4pm on Sunday and was cordoned off following a police swoop.

According to witnesses there were still at least four police cars on the garage forecourt on Monday morning. No members of staff appeared to be present at the filling station.

Dorset Police referred all media enquiries to the Metropolitan Police, who were releasing few details.

A Met Police spokesman said: “We can confirm officers from the Metropolitan Police Kidnap and Specialist Investigations Unit have arrested a 22-year-old man in the Swanage area as part of ongoing enquiries.”

He said the arrest was not connected to any investigation relating to the killing of soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich.