A devoted mother told how images of her little boy flashed through her mind as she was held up at knife-point.

Shop worker Sharon Miller, 29, put on a brave face and returned to work just hours after the terrifying robbery at Devines Newsagents in Grangetown, Middlesbrough.

The mother-of-one, who works part-time at the shop, defied the thug who threatened her life on Friday afternoon and was back behind the counter on Saturday.

She said: "It only last a couple of minutes but all I could think about was my little boy. I told him not to hurt me and I'd give him anything he wanted.

"I opened the till and he grabbed some notes and ran off. It was terrifying."

Ms Miller, who lives in nearby Eston with her eight-year-old son, told how she was confronted by the thief when he jumped over the counter.

He pulled out the blade and told her to open the till before escaping with around £130 in cash.

She added: "I wasn't going to put my life on the line, I had my son to think about. I did what he asked and then he was gone.

"I didn't want to sit at home and dwell on what happened, otherwise I would have locked the door and not come out.

"I was absolutely petrified, and still am, but I have to show this piece of scum he can't win.

"He had a hood pulled up and a scarf wrapped around his face - all I could see were his eyes."

Ms Miller hit the store's panic alarm when the thug left at around 1.25p.m on Friday. Police arrived within minutes.

He ran from the shop along Clynes Road, heading towards Tennyson Avenue.

He spoke with a local accent and was around 6ft tall. He was wearing a grey hooded top with a black scarf, blue jeans and white trainers. He was carrying a green coloured carrier bag.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the daylight robbery to contact Detective Constable Danny Oldroyd, of South Bank CID on (01642) 326326.