DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses to an attempted robbery of a bookmakers in the Falls Road area last night.

Police say that at 7:20 pm officers received a report a male had entered the premises with what is believed to have been a knife and approached a staff member.

The assailant then made off on foot, empty handed.

No one was reported injured.

The suspect is described as 5’9’’ tall, of medium build and was wearing a black puffa-type jacket and a white hat. He was described as being aged in his mid-20s.

Detective Sergeant Rory McPhillips said: “I want to appeal to anyone who was in the area and saw what happened, or saw a male matching this description acting suspiciously around this time to contact us quoting reference number 1072 of 11/09/18.

“Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.”