A teenager has been charged after being arrested by a witness to an armed robbery in Birmingham Gardens, Newcastle, this morning.

About 9.30am (Monday 16 February 2015), a male entered a service station on Sandgate Road allegedly armed with a knife and threatened staff.

Staff complied with his demands and handed over an amount of cash before he ran from the scene.

A 55-year-old man who witnessed the incident followed the male, who dropped the knife and jumped on a bicycle.

The witness lost sight of the male for a short time before seeing him again at a drain system nearby. The witness gave chase and tackled the male to the ground.

Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command arrived a short time later and arrested a 17-year-old boy.

He was taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with armed robbery (x2) and was refused bail to appear at Children’s Court tomorrow (Thursday 17 February 2015).