Townsville convenience store standoff ends

A Townsville shop assistant has been held at knife-point during a tense standoff between a robber and police.

The 21-year-old assistant and a customer were released unharmed after several minutes of intense negotiations.

The man surrendered the knife and was arrested at the store on the Bruce Highway at Deeragun on Monday night.

A 20-year-old man will appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on Tuesday, charged with two counts each of deprivation of liberty, and one count each of armed robbery.