Police have launched an appeal after a man armed with a meat cleaver robbed a newsgents in east London.

On July 1, shortly after 2pm, a man entered a shop in Forest Gate.

Upon entering the shop, he threatened the owner with a meat clever and swung the blade towards the victim’s face.

Although the blade missed, the man made off with £40 from the till.

Police have described the assailant as of large build and with a circular-shaped tattoo on the inside of his right forearm.

Officers have released a CCTV image from the shop.

Anyone who may know the man’s identity is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 2607/03Jul or tweet @MetCC.