Five girls — four aged 16 and one aged 14 — have been arrested in connection with an attempted armed robbery on a 29-year-old man.

Police said that at 12.20 a.m. on Saturday the Pembroke man was walking along Pitts Bay Road. He was approached by the girls, who were on bikes, as he reached Woodbourne Avenue. One of them was brandishing a "pointed object".

A Police spokesman said: "The man managed to avoid the girls and walked to his residence on Cemetery Lane. However on arrival the same group of females approached him and cornered him outside.

"Despite this, the man was again able to elude the young women and escape into his home. He was not injured and nothing was taken from him."

Police later arrested three 16-year-old Pembroke girls, a 16-year-old Devonshire girl and a 14-year-old Devonshire girl. Their cycles were also impounded.

Any witnesses or anyone with any information should contact the Hamilton Criminal Investigation Unit on 295-0011.