POLICE seized a knife after chasing a teenager on foot through an estate.

Officers from Operation Target pursued a suspect on Crantock Grove, Windle on Wednesday afternoon.

They seized this knife and arrested a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of possessing a blade.

In a statement police said: "Team 4 Targeted Officers have arrested a 17-year-old male (on suspicion of) possession of a bladed article on Crantock Grove, Windle yesterday afternoon.

St Helens Star:

The blue-handled blade was seized by police

"The male was detained in a front garden of a house after a foot chase. #OpTarget".

It is the third knife crime reported by police in the past week.

On Saturday a teenage boy was stopped on Ormskirk Street, St Helens town centre by police officers.

It is alleged a knife was hidden up his sleeve.

READ> Hooded robber in surgical mask threatens woman with knife

A police spokesman said a 16-year-old boy was arrested and later charged with possession of a bladed article.

He will appear in court next month.

Earlier this week it was revealed that a woman in her 20s had been threatened at knifepoint by a hooded robber wearing a surgical face mask at 7.20pm on Wednesday, June 17.

It was reported that the woman was walking through St Helens town centre and followed by a man down Shaw Street, along Chalon Way East and down Salisbury Street.

On the approach to the Steve Prescott Bridge, the man shouted for the woman’s attention and demanded she hand over cash, a mobile phone and her backpack.

The man then produced a kitchen knife and took the victim’s purple backpack and phone, running away in the direction of St Helens Chamber.

Police are hunting for the robber after the terrifying ordeal left the woman "extremely shaken".