A have-a-go-hero shopkeeper today told how he faced a 'fight or die' decision when a robber placed a gun to his head.

Grandfather Tause Khan said he could "die like a dummy" or fight back when 41-year-old Lloyd Russell demanded cash in his newsagent store.

Mr Khan hit back and suffered a broken arm in the scuffle and was left requiring six stitches to his hand.

Sentencing Russell to seven years in jail for robbery at Bradford Crown Court yesterday, Judge Shaun Spencer described Mr Khan as a "genuine have-a-go-hero" and order-ed he be paid £250 for his actions.

But afterwards 61-year-old Mr Khan said the award meant little to him and the experience of the attack has left him wanting to sell his shop in Little Horton, and leave the area altogether.

He feared he was about to die when Russell reached for his revolver as the accomplice walked out of the shop with the till.

He said: "I believed it was my final moment. My eyes were fixed on the revolver, his finger and the trigger.

"I thought to myself I can either die here like a dummy or I can give myself a chance."

He leapt at Russell pinning his arms to his side and refused to let go. The struggle spilled out onto the street and eventually Russell was restrained by police called by a passer-by.

At the trial Judge Spencer said such robberies were quite widespread and sentences had to be relatively severe to deter others.

He also awarded £100 each to two witnesses, Khalid Mahmood and Thazim Akthar, who provided key evidence during the trial.

But Mr Khan said he believed the sentence was not harsh enough. He said: "Running a shop is a dangerous profession these days. Ever since the attack I am nervous every time someone walks in.

Russell, a father-of-four, told the jury how he walked in on the robbery and had taken the opportunity to steal phone cards and cigarettes for himself.

"I knew there was something up,'' he told the court. "I've seen Crimewatch and things like that on TV, so I knew there was a robbery taking place.''

He said one man ran out of the newsagent's carrying the till followed by an accomplice.

Russell, of Thursby Street, Leeds Road, Bradford, said he did not see Mr Khan in the shop and took the opportunity to lean over the counter and grab the phone cards and cigarettes.

Prosecutor John Winteler claimed Russell's account was nonsense dreamed up when he was taken to hospital for treatment before he was interviewed by police the next day.