Two female employees, aged 46 and 51, were working at the Manning Street shop about 4pm when two men, one armed with a double-barrelled shotgun, entered the store.

The armed man pushed the gun’s barrel against the 46-year-old woman’s head and demanded she open the till.

She complied, while the second man walked behind the counter and grabbed cigarettes and money.

As the robbers were leaving a 54-year-old man entered the store and confronted the men, but was pushed out of the way as the pair fled.

They escaped in a white sedan, similar to a Nissan Pulsar, heading north on Manning Street then west into Barney Street.

Lake Illawarra police are appealing for the public’s help to track down the men.

The armed man is described as being in his late 20s, about 175cm tall with a medium build, red-coloured hair and was wearing a black balaclava and dark clothing at the time of the robbery.

The second man is described as being in his mid 20s, about 180cm tall with a skinny build and was wearing a grey hooded jumper.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Lake Illawarra police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.