A MASKED attacker who held a shop assistant at knifepoint was frightened off thanks to the bravery of her store manager.

The incident happened shortly after the One Stop shop in Guildford Avenue, in The Lawns opened.

Store manager, David Andrews, heard screams from the 23-year old shop assistant at the back of the store.

He said: "I went to look and saw one of our shop assistants being held with a knife at her throat. We were the only ones in the shop, so I had to do something. I swore at him and went towards him. I think he was surprised because he let her go and ran off. I was really livid and I didn't really stop to think."

Mr Andrews ran after the assailant who stopped after about 20 metres and turned around to threaten him with a knife.

He said: "He was holding the knife and said 'come on then'. I ran back to the store and picked up an iron bar and went back to chase after him. I am not sure what I was going to do if I actually caught up with him. Luckily the whole thing has been captured on CCTV.

"I am pleased to say that no one here has been hurt, but I admit I was shaking afterwards. I have sent the sales assistant home to recover. You just don't need things like this, especially first thing in the morning."

The assailant ran off and escaped on his bicycle towards Sandringham Road following the incident at 6am yesterday.

Today police said they had a man in custody in connection with the incident.