Police hunt man who held up shops at knifepoint

Police in the North are looking for a man who robbed a butchers and a pharmacy at knifepoint in west Belfast.

The suspect escaped with cash following the raids, which took place within just 15 minutes of each other.

Police said a butcher shop on the Springfield Road in the city was targeted by a man wielding a large knife late yesterday afternoon.

The man is believed to have threatened staff and demanded money before he escaped in a blue estate car.

Shortly afterwards there was a similar armed heist at a chemist on the Whiterock Road.

The culprit escaped on foot in the direction of the Falls Road. He is described as wearing a waist-length dark coat with the collar turned up and a black beanie hat.

No one was injured during the incidents.