Police are appealing for information following the armed robbery of a bowling club at Lambton near Newcastle last night.

About 10:45pm, Friday 14 September 2012, three men smashed the rear window of the bowling club on Karoola Road, Lambton.

Three staff members heard the noise and ran to a cool room where they were chased and threatened by the males who were armed with metal bars.

The employees had their hands and feet bound with cable ties before the trio stole a large sum of cash from the safe.

Police have been told the men also stole a wallet, mobile phone and one of the employee’s car keys.

The men then stole a green Ford Falcon which was parked in the bowling club car park and managed to make good their escape.

Some forty minutes later the employees were able to free themselves and contact police.

Newcastle City Police attended the scene and all three staff members were assessed by paramedics but did not require any hospital treatment.

Police are now investigating the armed robbery and are looking for the stolen Ford Falcon which has NSW registration AQ-91-HF.

They are also attempting to identify and locate the three men involved in the robbery