A GANG picked the wrong shop to target for an armed robbery as they unexpectedly ran into an off duty police officer who bravely stopped them in their tracks.

When two masked men wielding a 3ft metal bar entered Sheldon’s Newsagent, in Willington, County Durham, they were confronted by PC Paul Canvin.

His actions that day - when he wrestled one to the ground and helped secure the conviction of four culprits - have earned him a nomination for a national bravery award.

PC Canvin was on annual leave at the time of the raid last September and immediately told a shop worker to call 999 while he stood up to the pair.

They threatened staff with the weapon and made repeated demands for cigarettes and money before PC Canvin wrestled one to the ground.

With the help of a delivery driver he held onto the man wielding the bar for almost ten minutes until officers arrived. Whilst holding him round the neck the suspect struggled violently and PC Canvin was threatened with being stabbed.

The suspect was arrested and subsequently jailed along with his accomplice, who had run away from the scene, and two other men were convicted of conspiracy to rob.

PC Canvin, a response officer based at Crook, said: “They were masked up, all I could see was their eyes. One said ‘I want the fags and the money’ and I said ‘you what, you’re joking aren’t you?’

“I got closer to him, took him by the neck and to the ground, he turned to his mate and said ‘get your knife and stab him’.”

A knife was later found near the scene and PC Canvin believes had the suspects realised he was a police officer they may have used it in desperation to escape.

PC Canvin will represent Durham police in the National Police Bravery Awards in July when he will attend a champagne reception at Downing Street before a ceremony at The Dorchester, in London.

Andy Jackson, chairman of Durham Police Federation, said: “PC Canvin’s swift and decisive actions whilst off duty have most certainly prevented an already serious situation from escalating further.

“On this occasion PC Canvin has clearly put the safety of others before his own and I commend him for his courage and bravery.”

The incident is not the first time PC Canvin has been a hero.

After 13 years in the Armed Forces he joined the Metropolitan Police where he tackled a robber armed with a .357 Magnum gun, was threatened with being thrown from a third floor balcony during a domestic incident and was stabbed twice in his protective vest.

He said: “You join the police to protect people, at the time that is all you think about.

“Something like this happens and your training kicks in, you do a dynamic assessment and decide what to do.

“It is a nice surprise to be nominated but I’m not in it for tea and medals, if you get recognised you get recognised and I appreciate that.

“But in my eyes I don’t think I have done anything extraordinary, every officer who puts on the uniform is brave.”