A Bradford shopkeeper told how he hurled bottles of cider at would-be robbers who sprayed him in the face with a noxious substance.

Robert Hambleton, 54, who runs Oakroyd Stores of Oakroyd Terrace, Manningham, said he threw the plastic bottles and anything else he could lay his hands on at the masked raiders trying to raid his shop.

Mr Hambleton, who has owned the shop since 1991, said he was just starting to stock shelves when he sensed the men coming into the shop at 8.30pm.

He said: "I turned to look up and suddenly I was sprayed in the face with some kind of gas.

"I was already on the ground so I just picked up some cider bottles and started throwing them at the men.

"I just picked up anything I could get my hands on. The last thing I threw was a tin of Ajax."

The offenders demanded Mr Hambleton open his cash till, but he refused.

"There was no way I was going to do give them my money. "They even tried to open the till but could not do it," he added.

Mr Hambleton then chased the men out of his shop.

They fled empty-handed towards an alleyway behind the store.

"I started banging on a metal bin to alert people's attention and then the police arrived," he said. The modest shopkeeper denied he had acted bravely, but said he was not afraid of defending himself.

"It was quite an experience. But it is all in a day's work. I hope they are caught. I have also had a lot of customers come to see if I am okay, which has been really nice," he said.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident.

The attackers are descried as Afro-Caribbean and of medium build. One was 5ft 9in tall and the other 5ft 8in. They both wore black balaclavas and scarves over their faces.

Anyone with any information on the incident should call Toller Lane Police on (01274) 376259 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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