A BRAVE female shop assistant tackled a robber as he grabbed money from the till.

Lisa Hollinshede, who works at High Grange Wines, Billingham, first saw the man reversing into a parking space outside the shop in Casson Way.

He had hit a kerb and she was worried he was going to go through the shop's window.

He then went into the shop and asked for a packet of cigarette papers and handed over 17p. When she opened the till to put the money in, he leant over the counter and tried to grab two £10 notes.

Miss Hollinshede, 29, took hold of his hand and tried to push the till shut, but he managed to get the notes.

Miss Hollinshede said: "He then made for the door and I managed to stop him. I had my fingers in his clothes and had a good grip on him, but he pushed me aside and managed to get outside.

"I followed him outside and tried again to detain him, but he threatened to hit me, so I let go."

The man, described as 6ft tall, slim and aged between 25 and 30, made off in a red car towards the Stoney Oak Pub.

Miss Hollinshede was left shaken by the incident.

She said: "It did not occur to me at the time what was happening, but as soon as I came back into the shop I started to cry."

Anyone with any information about the incident, which took place on Monday at 4pm, is asked to contact PC Adrian Martin on (01642) 302410.