A man armed with a sawn-off firearm has stormed an Islington newsagency and made away with several packets of cigarettes.

The man, described as being in his 20s or 30s, entered the business on the corner of Beaumont Street and Maitland Road before approaching a female employee and taunting her with the gun.

When the woman was unable to surrender any cash, the man demanded cigarettes before fleeing amd heading in the direction of Daniel Street.

He is described as being around 170 centimeres tall and wearing a blue sweatshirt and dark shorts.

Police say the man was spotted near the vicinity of the crime shortly before the robbery took place and are urging any witnesses or people with information to come forward.