Police are appealing for witnesses following an attempted robbery in Ballarat last night.

Investigators have been told a 38-year-old woman was withdrawing money from an ATM at the corner of Windermere and Sturt streets just before 9pm when she was approached by an unknown male wearing a balaclava.

The man made several demands for money but when the woman refused to hand over any cash, he fled the scene.

The woman, from Miners Rest, was not injured during the incident.

The offender is described as being slim build and approximately 165 centimetres tall.

He was wearing dark blue jeans and a blue or green polar fleece top.

Police believe the man was also wearing a red lanyard around his neck.