A man has been charged with attempted murder following multiple armed robberies in the Newcastle area earlier this year.

Strike Force Kerwin was established in June this year to investigate numerous armed robberies in the Newcastle and Hunter area.

 Police will allege the first incident occurred about 6pm on Sunday 22 May 2011 when two men robbed a hotel in Carrington while armed with a mini Ruger semi-automatic rifle.

 The second incident occurred on Saturday 11 June 2011 when a post office in Carrington was held-up by two men, one of which was armed with a pistol.

 About 6:50pm on Sunday 19 June 2011, another robbery was committed when two men entered a bowling club at North Lambton.

During the robbery one of the men allegedly discharged one shot from a rifle striking a man in the stomach.

The man, aged in his 60s, sustained a gunshot wound to his stomach and underwent 13 operations and spent seven weeks in hospital recovering from his injuries.

About 3pm, Friday 15 July 2011, the two armed men struck again when they allegedly robbed a building society in New Lambton.

During the robbery the men attempted to smash their way into an office with a sledgehammer before fleeing the premises with an amount of cash.

This morning (Thursday 24 November 2011) officers attached to Strike Force Kerwin attended premises in Kempsey where they arrested a 27-year-old man.

He was subsequently charged with shoot with intent to murder and seven (7) counts of robbery in company armed with a dangerous weapon.

The robbery charges relate to the four armed robberies and three incidents relating to the stealing of motor vehicles.

The man was refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 7 December 2011.

He is the third man to be charged after a 26-year-old man was arrested by police on Wednesday 19 October 2011 and another man, aged 24, was arrested in Moree on Thursday 10 November 2011.

These two men are due to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday 14 December 2011.

Officers attached to Strike Force Kerwin are continuing their investigations into the robberies.