Police have arrested and charged a teenager over the alleged attempted armed robbery of a newsagency near Maitland this morning.

About 10am today (Friday 24 October 2014), the 16-year-old male entered the premises on High Street at Largs and allegedly threatened the owner with a knife while demanding cash.

The owner of the store armed himself with a wooden bat and the male fled the scene a short time later.

Following inquiries, officers attached to Central Hunter Local Area Command attended a home in Largs, where they arrested a 16-year-old male.

He was taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with robbery while armed with an offensive weapon and refused bail to appear before a children’s court tomorrow (Saturday 25 October 2014).