Police are appealing for public assistance after the armed robbery of a bottle shop in the Hunter region, yesterday.

About 2.15pm (Sunday 28 April 2013), a man entered the bottle shop on Cooper Street, Cessnock, armed with a knife.

There was a single staff member and two customers in the store at the time.

The man threatened the attendant and demanded cash before approaching one of the customers and demanding her car keys.

The man later fled with an amount of money. Police believe the vehicle he was driving was stolen.

No one was injured during the incident.

Police from Central Hunter Local Area Command were called to the scene and commenced an investigation.

Some time after the robbery, the vehicle was found in Shedden Street, Cessnock, where police attended and conducted a canvass of the surrounding area.

Investigators are now appealing to anyone with information about the incident to contact them and have today released images of a man who they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries.

The man depicted in the images is described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his mid 40s, about 180cm tall and with slim build. He is shown wearing a black Jim Beam baseball cap, blue weather jacket and blue pants.