Shopkeepers beat back knife robber with a broom handle

These are the extraordinary scenes when a shopkeeper and his female assistant fought off a knife-wielding robber in a raid on their store.

The CCTV footage shows a well-built man entering the shop in east London, grabbing the woman around the neck and holding a knife to her throat.

Without a moment's hesitation the shopkeeper leaps to her defence and wrestles with the man, forcing him to release her.

The woman then arms herself with a broom handle and the pair take it in turns to force the robber to retreat.

At one point the shopkeeper uses the broom to beat the assailant back as he advances menacingly with the knife. The attack happened on Friday October 21 in the Harrolds Discount jeweller store in Dagenham. Scotland Yard today released the CCTV footage and appealed for information about the knifeman's identity.

Det Chief Insp Ian Corner said: "This was a violent attack which left the shop workers extremely shaken. They acted with great courage to fight off the suspect and were lucky to have avoided being seriously injured. We need help from the public to trace this individual."

Police say the footage shows the man entering the store and loitering in the doorway before he grabs the woman.

The shopkeeper, who is in his fifties, forces the suspect to release the woman before beating him back with a broom. The suspect is seen to flee across the road and into the shopping centre along Dagenham Heathway. He is described as white, of stocky build with a shaved head.

Anyone with information should call 020 8345 4226 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.