Members of Tasmania Police have charged a 17 year old youth in respect to the armed robbery committed at the Newnham IGA Supermarket at 5.40pm on Sunday night.

The youth is alleged to have entered the store, armed with a knife before demanding money and fleeing with a quantity of cash. He has been detained to appear in an out-of-hours court sitting on Monday morning.

Tasmania Police wish to thank members of the public for providing vital information in respect to the matter and urge anyone who may have witnessed a male in acting suspiciously in the Newnham area on Sunday evening to contact the Launceston Criminal Investigation Branch.

The offender has been described as wearing a black Adidas jumper, blue Adidas cap, black track pants and carrying a black backpack. He was seen riding a BMX bike near George Town Road, Newnham.

The staff member working at the supermarket did not receive any injuries as a result of the armed robbery.