Police in County Down have arrested two men on suspicion of blackmail, hijacking, theft and false imprisonment.

According to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), a 33-year-old man had his car hijacked by two men wearing high-vis jackets in the early hours of yesterday morning.

PSNI Detective Sergeant David Cameron said the man was driving near the town of Kilkeel, when he was stopped by the two men – who had placed a ‘Road Closed’ sign on the road.

The attackers stole the driver’s keys and proceeded to assault him while he was in the passenger seat of the car.

“He was subjected to this ordeal while one of the men drove around with the other in the back seat,” said Detective Sergeant Cameron.

He said the attackers eventually returned the man to the spot where they had initially picked him up and left him at the side of the road.

They demanded his mobile phone off him before driving away in his car.

The arrest was made by police from Newry.