Police are appealing after a man armed with a weapon attempted to rob a newsagents over the weekend.

The man, dressed entirely in black and with his face almost covered by a cap, went into J & D News on Brenda Road in Foggy Furze, Hartlepool, between 7.40 and 7.45pm on Saturday (February 4) and demanded cash from the female member of staff who was the only person in the store at the time.

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He fled empty-handed after an alarm was raised and ran off in the direction of Windermere Road.

Enquiries are ongoing and Hartlepool CID is appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time or who may have CCTV or dashcam footage to get in touch.

Anyone who witnessed anything is asked to contact Cleveland Police on the 101 number, quoting ref 022093.