A PENSIONER with a heart condition has told how he chased a woman around a market town after she threatened a shopworker with a knife.

Angina sufferer Alexander Webb - weighed down with bags of shopping - sprung into action after he spotted a woman fleeing from Scott's Electricals, in Leyburn, North Yorkshire.

The 66-year-old could not catch the culprit and police are still looking for the woman, who terrified shop worker Phillip McDonnell when she pulled a knife on him.

Mr Webb said: "I saw her come out of the shop followed by the shopkeeper. He told me what had happened so I started after her.

"She was about 25ft away from me. I couldn't run that fast - I'm 66 years old and had bags of shopping - but I was gaining on her.

"Suddenly, as she left the fire station car park, I lost sight of her for just a few seconds. She had completely disappeared, I was amazed. I never knew she had a knife, if I did I wouldn't have chased her."

Scott's shopworker Mr McDonnell, 58, said the woman came in and began talking about cookers. I thought there was something not quite right about her," he said.

"I bent down to show her something on the floor and suddenly I felt a blade against my neck.

"She said 'give me all your money' so I just pushed her into the fridges at the back of the shop."

After moving to the Dales more than six years ago, former spark welder Mr Webb said he had hoped to enjoy a peaceful retirement.

He said: "I love it here. I moved from Birmingham for a quiet life, and now this has happened."

A police spokesman said: "A woman is alleged to have threatened a shopworker and then made off from the scene.

"The investigation is on-going and police are still trying to trace the woman."

The woman is described as white, aged in her 50s, about 5ft 2in, with rusty brown, collar-length hair and heavy build.

She was wearing a red jumper and a green wax-type jacket.

Anyone with information is asked to call Richmond police on 0845-60-60-247.