The balaclava-clad thugs ran off empty-handed after the elderly shopkeeper and his counter assistant refused to open the till and instead let fly with objects, including a tape dispenser!

"A man in his 60s confronted them when they first burst in and decided he wasn't having any of it and fought back," said investigating officer, Det Con Andy Wallace.

"He attempted to struggle with the gunman, saying he wasn't going to take the money, and that's when the offender with the hammer got involved.

"But then the female staff member, a woman in her 20s, threw a sticky tape dispenser at them and at that point they decided to leave."

The robbers, who were both wearing yellow high-visibility vests, fled from the premises in Liverpool Road, Hough Green, and escaped in a white transit van, which was waiting in Ditchfield Road, in an unknown direction.

The have-a-go hero suffered a bruised shoulder during the attempted robbery and both he and his colleague were left shaken.

Police say their actions prevented any money being taken from the till.

Detectives have not yet recovered the silver handgun, the black claw hammer or white van but are hopeful the incident, which happened at 2.20pm last Wednesday, September 30, was witnessed by numerous passers-by.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Runcorn special investigations unit on 01244-613 936 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555 111.