A BRAVE shop assistant gave chase to a robber who threatened him with a gun while trying to grab cash from the till.

Jamie Townshend, 20, has been working at Dillon's One Stop in Castle Lane West, Bournemouth, for less than a month. He was behind the till around 8.15pm on Thursday when a man came in and asked for a packet of 10 Marlborough cigarettes, handing over a £5 note.

"I thought he was a normal customer, but as soon as I gave him his change, he dived over the desk, pulled out gun and said: Don't move'. I was terrified," said Jamie, who lives in Bournemouth.

As the robber rummaged in the till, Jamie decided to have a go at overpowering him. "I dived at him. He pointed the gun straight at my face and said: Go on then, I'll shoot'.

"He looked back down and because he couldn't get the notes, he put the gun down and used his hand to pull himself further over. I made a fully committed attempt to try and get him to release the gun. When he saw me dive forward, he looked up and ran."

Jamie pressed the panic button and set off in pursuit across the forecourt of the Broadway pub and around the corner into Greenways Avenue.

"He stopped with his back to me," said Jamie. "As he turned, he said: Go on then, I've got a knife.' Jamie saw something glinting and backed off, but resumed the chase when the other man started running again.

"I followed at a safe distance. His keys must have been in one of his hands. I saw him approach a car which had an automatic locking system."

Jamie went up to the car, but the robber again threatened to stab him before driving off with his headlights on full beam.

"I guess I was a bit silly, but at the time I was more concerned about trying to catch him than my safety," said Jamie. "I was infuriated and thought: How dare you make me frightened'."

Jamie, who lives in Bournemouth was a sergeant at Brockenhurst College's combined cadet force and is hoping to join the RAF.

The thief is described as in his late 30s or early 40s and 5ft 9in tall. He was wearing a blue denim jacket and jeans with a khaki jumper and grey fisherman's style hat.

Anyone with information is asked to ring the police on 01202 222222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.