A DEVOTED mother told how images of her young son flashed through her mind as she was held up at knifepoint.

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

The mother-of-one, who works part-time at the shop, faced 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 that I would 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 he escaped with about £130.

She said: "I was not 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 did not 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 cannot 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 robber left at about 1.25pm 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 about 6ft. He wore a grey hooded top with a black scarf, blue jeans and white trainers, and carried a green carrier bag.

Police are appealing for witnesses to call Detective Constable Danny Oldroyd on (01642) 326326.