A shopkeeper who took on two raiders armed with a knife, has spoken about the moment he risked his life to defend his livelihood.

Nadesan Barthipan was attacked at Queen News in Queenborough Road, Halfway, while his wife and two young children slept upstairs.

His actions meant the two men left empty-handed.

Mr Barthipan was putting the day’s papers out to be collected and was in the shop with the door open, when two men appeared in the doorway at 10.30pm Monday.

They had caps on and were wearing stockings over their faces to hide their identity.

The shopkeeper said when he looked and saw the men, one said: “I’ve got a knife.”

This was then brandished at him.

The 39-year-old said: “He came very close to me so I took hold of the blade of the knife and pushed him to the floor.

“I was fighting with him, holding him to the floor by the back of his jacket.

“Then he pulled the knife out of my hand ran to the door.”

While the pair were fighting on the floor, the other man came in and made his way to the till.

When Mr Barthipan saw him trying to break into the till, he went over to him and grabbed the back of his jacket.

The father-of-two said: “He shouted at the other guy for help, and he came back with the knife.

“Then they left and I phoned the police. They just wanted to get away from me – cowards.

“They ran away.”

For the full story, see this week's Sheerness Times Guardian