Masked men armed with a firearm threatened and robbed a man on the street in Madliena, yesterday evening.

The police said the men approached the victim at about 7pm in E Pirotta Street, on the outskirts of the town.

Threatening to shoot him, they demanded money.

He gave them his wallet, which contained less than €500, and fled, the police said.

It is not known how many men were involved in the hold-up but the police said no one was injured.

A short time later, they received a report of a car on fire in Pembroke. They suspect it was the car used by the robbers.