Women targeted in armed robberies

Two women have been robbed at gunpoint in separate incidents in Northern Ireland.

The first incident happened at about 1800 GMT on Monday in Newtownards, County Down.

A woman, working as a collection agent in the Barnagh Grove area of the town, was robbed after a masked man held a gun to her head.

Shortly afterwards, a second woman was attacked in north Belfast.

The shop assistant was attacked in the Ballysillan area at about 1845 GMT on Monday.

The woman was left badly shaken after a gun was pointed to her head during a robbery at the newsagents where she worked.

Police have appealed for witnesses to either incident to contact them.