Police hunt man after violent early morning holdup at Whyalla hotel

Police are hunting a masked man armed with a machete who held up a Whyalla hotel overnight.

Authorities are on the hunt for a machete-wielding thief after a violent robbery at a hotel in Whyalla.

About 1.25am on Wednesday, a man armed with a machete entered a hotel gaming area on Gowrie Drive and threatened staff, before stealing cash and fleeing the scene.

He was last seen running away from the hotel in a south-easterly direction.

No one was injured during the incident.

The suspect is described as being of caucasian appearance, 25 to 30 years old with an athletic slim build and was wearing a black jumper, dark-coloured pants and gloves with large yellow star on top of the hand and a balaclava.

Police are appealing to witnesses to contact Crime Stoppers.