A man-hunt has been launched following two armed robberies of shops in South Dublin this evening.

A man armed with a handgun held up staff at a Grocery store on St Enda's Drive in Rathfarnham at about 5 o'clock this evening - while at Blackglen road - staff were threatened by a man wielding a knife in a shop there.

Gardaí are investigating the possibility that the incidents are linked and are searching for the men involved.

The staff at both shops are said to be traumatised but weren't physically injured in the raids.