Two men arrested following an alleged robbery of a cash-in-transit van in South Norwood are to appear in court today.

Flying Squad officers saw the incident at the Shell petrol garage in Portland Road, South Norwood, at about 2.30pm on Monday, February 27.

Robert Richards, 27, of Heathfield Drive, Mitcham, and Ishmael Baptiste, 26, of Cypress Road, South Norwood, were arrested following the incident.

Richards, a plumber, and Baptiste, a computer engineer, will appear via video link at Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court today.

The pair stand charged with robbery, aggravated vehicle taking, and possession of an offensive weapon.

A police officer fired a gun during the course of the arrests, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said.

The driver of one of the cars, a 70-year-old man, was injured in the collision and taken to a south London hospital.

His injuries were not deemed to be life-threatening and he has since been released from hospital.