A shopkeeper who was stabbed when he foiled a robbery says he would do it all again.

Ken Peacock works 80 hours a week and was not prepared to hand over his hard-earned takings to the robbers who burst into his off-licence in Darlington, County Durham, last night.

The brave 50-year-old suffered a small stab wound to his arm when he prevented the two masked raiders making off with his money, by trying to hit one of them with a stool.

The men fled empty handed and are now being hunted by detectives in Darlington.

Mr Peacock combines working in the shop he runs with his wife Katherine, K & S Peacock in Neasham Road, with a full-time job as a staff nurse in the dialysis unit of Darlington Memorial Hospital.

He works around 80 hours a week to support his family, which include his teenage children Richard and Katherine, and says this is one of the reasons why he didn't let the robbers take his money.

"I didn't give it a moment of thought and just knew they weren't going to steal my takings," he said.

"I remained calm both during and after the incident and I don't regret one thing."

Mr Peacock, who worked as a hospital ward manager for 25 years before buying his shop, said there was no danger of him failing to go to work yesterday, despite his ordeal.

"I think it shook my wife up more than me," he said.

"I went back into the NHS because we were concerned that a supermarket was going to be built near us, affecting our livelihood.

"I work around 80 hours a week and I think it was this reason why I was so determined that they were not going to steal our money."

Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information about the attempted robbery, which happened at 9.40pm, to come forward.

Detective Sergeant Alec Francis, of Darlington police, said: "Have a go heroes like Mr Peacock have to make the split decision whether or not protecting their property is worth the risk of personal injury."

Police can be contacted on (01325) 467681.

Updated: 17.41 Tuesday, June 5