A 24-year-old man has been arrested over the attempted robbery of a Christchurch dairy.

Police say a man tried to take a number of items from a shop on Opawa Road around 8 this morning, but the owners intervened, and he fled in a vehicle.

Cordons were set up and an arrest was made on Tunnel Road.

Two firearms and a hatchet were found in the stopped vehicle.

The arrested man faces charges of assault with intent to rob, unlawful possession of a firearm and possession of a restricted weapon.

He is likely to appear in court on Monday.