A man threatened staff with a samurai sword during a robbery at a takeaway in east Belfast on Saturday night.

The man went into the shop on the Beersbridge Road and brandished the weapon before demanding cash.

Meanwhile, police are probing an incident where a masked robber armed with a machete threatened to kill staff at a filling station - also in east Belfast - on Friday night.

The robbery happened at the petrol station on the Knock Road close to Shandon Park Golf Club. The man, who was wearing a balaclava, went inside at about 10.40pm and threatened to kill staff if they did not hand over money.

Robin Newton East Belfast DUP MLA for the area, (pictured) has condemned the two east Belfast armed robberies carried out within 24-hours and said these robberies will leave the young staff in both the businesses feeling nervous, panicky and uneasy for some time.

"The robberies carried out in a Knock Road filling station and a Beersbridge Road fast food outlet will be condemned by all right thinking people.

"Those who carry machetes and samurai swords and threaten staff are deserving of long sentences.

"There is now hardly a day goes by without another report of a robbery with violence or a threat of violence on a small independent retailer.

"Usually the sums of money stolen are relatively small. However, the trauma suffered by the owner or their staff can last for a long period of time," he said, noting that many of these small business owners find it difficult to get insurance cover and the profits from these business enterprises is at the lower end of the scale.

"One robbery can cancel out the retailers profits for a month or longer.

"These businesses offer a service to the local community, the owners and staff frequently live nearby and the recurrent robberies and violent attacks make it difficult for the shops to remain open," the Stormont Junior Minister continued.

"I am appealing for the community of east Belfast and the wider community to support the efforts of the police in catching those who carry out these dastardly deeds."

(BMCC/GK)