Restaurant staff fought off an attacker armed with a knife using a broomstick.

Police said that at 8.40 p.m. on Tuesday, they received a report of a robbery at the Upper Crust Restaurant, in Warwick.

A Police spokesman said: "It appears that around 8 p.m. that day a man entered the establishment brandishing a bladed article and demanding cash.

"However, when the suspect attempted to open the cash register, an employee confronted him with a 'broomstick' and the suspect made good his escape empty handed. The employee was not injured."

The suspect is described as a black male, 5ft 5ins of average build wearing a black sweatshirt, dark-coloured long pants and a black helmet with a visor.