DETECTIVES investigating robberies at two shops on North Tyneside at the weekend will keep an open mind over whether they are linked.

Northumbria Police issued an appeal for witnesses after the incidents on Sunday afternoon.

The first incident took place at around 2.15pm at a convenience shop on Elsdon Terrace, North Shields. A man armed with a knife entered the store and got away with cash from the till.

Nobody was injured.

The suspect is described as white and in his mid-30s, he had his face covered and was wearing a green hooded coat and black pants.

At around 3.45pm a robbery was reported at Farmfoods, on The Boulevard, in Longbenton.

A man entered the store and approached the tills, brandishing a knife and left the premises with a quantity of cash.

He is described as a white man around 5ft 11in and is thought to have left in the direction of Longbenton Metro station. He wore a dark jacket and had his face covered.

Police officers carried out house to house and CCTV enquiries, and appealed to the public for information.

Detective Sergeant Mark Rutherford said: “At this stage in our enquiries we do not believe these two robberies are linked and it is likely that two separate offenders are responsible.

"However, we will always keep an open mind in these type of investigations.

"I want to reassure members of the public that patrols will be carried out in the area to make you feel safe and reassure local residents."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 101 quoting log 571 110318 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555111.