Police have charged a man over the armed robbery of a newsagency near Grafton earlier this year after a DNA match from a hat dropped at the scene.

Police will allege in court that about 6.20am on Friday 14 March, a man armed with a hammer entered the newsagency on Coldstream Street in Ulmarra

The man demanded cash before allegedly punching the male owner.

The armed man fled empty-handed. A hat was dropped at the scene.

Police from Coffs/Clarence Local Area Command commenced an investigation and seized the hat for forensic investigation.

Last week, police were notified they had a DNA match.

Yesterday (Tuesday 29 July), police executed a search warrant at a home on North Street in Grafton and arrested a 43-year-old man.

He has been charged with assault with intent to rob armed with an offensive weapon and refused bail to appear at Maclean Local Court today.