A 26-YEAR-OLD man has been sent for trial at Crown Court charged with two counts of armed robbery and five counts of kidnap.

Iain Parkinson, from Salford, appeared before Bolton magistrates yesterday. He is also facing two counts of possessing a firearm, two counts of burglary and one count of theft of a motor vehicle.

Parkinson was remanded in custody until his appearance at Manchester Crown Court on November 22. It follows Operation Botany which was set up to investigate a series of armed robberies at post offices and banks including two in Bolton.