The 23-year-old is alleged to have entered Gunney’s General Store and Take-away about noon yesterday and demanded a female employee empty the till.

The man, who was allegedly wearing a balaclava or something similar to partially cover his face, then fled the Gunnedah Rd shop on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Police were called to the scene and, after speaking to witnesses, identified a person of interest and made an arrest a short time later.

The man was taken to the Tamworth Police Station where he was interviewed by detectives before being charged with armed robbery.

He was refused bail ahead of a court appearance today.

Store owner Brad Gunn told The Leader it was a huge relief no one had been injured during the robbery.

However, he said both the employee and a teenage girl in the store at the time of the incident were left “pretty rattled” by the ordeal.

“He just threatened the lady and she just gave him the money, which is what we’re supposed to do,” he said.

“I’ve had the place five years and had broken windows and stuff like that, but definitely no one’s come in trying to rob it before.”

Mr Gunn sent the employee home and closed the store while police carried out their investigation, including dusting for fingerprints.