VIDEO shop worker Rebecca Hudd has spoken of her fear after she was confronted by a man pretending to have a gun.

Rebecca Hudd, 22, was working alone at Forward Video in Corsham on Sunday evening when a man entered at 10.20pm just as she was locking up the safe and till behind the counter.

The man, aged about 20, appeared at the edge of the counter with his fingers under his T-shirt in a gun shape, and demanded money.

"I turned round and was about to say 'sorry we are closed' and I saw this man with his T-shirt pulled over his head and his fingers under it," said Ms Hudd.

"I was so shocked, but I am pretty sure he was drunk, so I just told him to go home," she said.

"I told him to sleep it off, but he just kept refusing and demanding money."

Mrs Hudd asked him to leave four or five times and when the man refused she threatened to call the police.

"I said 'if you don't leave I will have to call the police'. I went to the telephone and as I turned round he ran through the door that leads to the staff side of the counter and grabbed my handbag and ran out," she said.

Ms Hudd immediately rang the police and gave a good description of the man.

Sergeant Ian Bamber of Corsham police said: "A 19-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of robbery and was taken to Melksham Police Station, where he was questioned. He was later released on police bail pending further police inquiries. He has not been charged with any offence."

Ms Hudd had told the police that the man was wearing a blue England football shirt, which could have been reversible.

Ms Hudd's handbag was found stuffed in a hedge bordering Corsham School on Tuesday night. Her mobile phone was still missing.

"I just want to thank the person that spotted it. I am relieved to get things back," said Ms Hudd.

"I have worked here part-time for a year and the most that has happened is kids throwing sweets at me when I refused them an 18 certificate video. "