An off-licence manager turned hero when he grabbed a shotgun from a robber trying to raid the shop.

Robert Tily, 21, manager of Threshers in Grange Road, Billericay, went with his 'instinct' when he was confronted by a teenaged girl pointing a gun at him and struggled with her until he got hold of the weapon.

She eventually made off empty-handed.

Mr Tily, who has only been manager of the off-licence for nine weeks, said: "It is not what you expect on a quiet night.

"She demanded money from he safe and till and wanted me to fill up a bag full of cigarettes."

He managed to get his colleague to go into the back room and bolt the door, so that she was safe, and then, while the robber was not looking, triggered the call for the police.

It was while the girl was looking towards the door, that he saw his chance and caught her off guard.

He said: "I went to grab the gun and swung a punch with my right hand. I missed her but my attempt at punching her made me sort of run into her and so I pushed her into one of the fridges. There was a struggle between us but I had more strength than her so I managed to get the gun off her."

Despite efforts to restrain her until police arrived, she eventually made off towards the former Burstead Plough Pub.

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