NSW girl, 13, sexually assaulted

A teenage girl has allegedly been raped by a relative who armed himself with a knife and broke into her room in the middle of the night in northern NSW.

The 27-year-old, who police say is a relative of his 13-year-old victim, was arrested at a nearby home in West Tamworth on Monday and charged with aggravated sexual assault.

Detectives allege the man forced his way into the girl's bedroom in the early hours of Sunday, threatening her with the knife before moving her to another room where the assault occurred.

He has been refused bail and is due to appear in Tamworth Local Court on Monday.