BRAVE landlord Andrew Grant was stabbed twice in his back when he fought with burglars at his pub in Holcombe Brook.

But despite his injuries, a blood-soaked Mr Grant managed to corner one of the intruders in the bathroom of the Hare and Hounds until police officers arrived.

Mr Grant has been honoured by the police for his bravery which led to his attacker, John William McKay, (26), being sent to prison for six years.

Mr Grant said: "I'd do it again. If I was confronted with the same situation, I wouldn't hesitate in having a go."

The 37-year-old was clearing up after closing on September 29, 2002, when he confronted the intruders in the upstairs living accommodation. As he gave chase, one of the offenders hit Mr Grant over the head with a metal torch. Mr Grant followed the two men as they tried to escape through a window and grabbed hold of McKay.

During a violent struggle Mr Grant was punched in the face several times.

He said: "It happened so fast. I thought, 'It's my living room. You shouldn't be there!'.

"We had had a burglary a few months earlier and they escaped with several thousands of pounds. I was so angry that someone had broken in again and I felt it was payback time."

Mr Grant's brave actions quickly took a turn for the worse when the other man, who has never been caught, armed himself with an eight-inch chef's knife and began to lash out.

"The lad I was fighting with said, 'Give me the knife, I'll kill him,'" said Mr Grant. "Somehow he got hold of it and I was stabbed."

Mr Grant continued to struggle with McKay and sustained further cuts to his hand. He eventually wrestled the knife from McKay and threw it out of the window.

Mr Oliver Chadwick, a member of staff, heard Mr Grant's shouts for help and armed himself with a mop. He ran upstairs where he found the heavily bloodstained Mr Grant still fighting with McKay. Mr Chadwick struck McKay with the mop before helping his boss push him into the bathroom.

At a ceremony at Bury Town Hall on Wednesday, Mr Grant was presented with the Provincial Police Award in recognition of his outstanding bravery. Mr Chadwick was was also honoured with the same award but was unable to attend the ceremony.