A HAMMER-WIELDING robber has been jailed for four years after a botched raid on a corner shop.

Michael Ellison, 24, was caught at the scene of his attempted crime by brave shopkeeper Bashir Patel, 52, who used a golf club to defend himself.

Police described his actions as ‘extremely brave and commendable' after he stood up to Ellison’s threats at the shop in Roe Greave Road, Oswaldtwistle.

Ellison, of Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, is now starting a jail term after admitting attempted robbery.

Police said that rather than handing over cash to the robber Mr Patel hit him with a golf club kept in the shop, and forced him to drop a knife.

The robber then came at him again, this time with a hammer, but Mr Patel, who was temporarily running the shop for a member of his family, was able to wrestle him to the ground.

Passers by, and regulars from the Rhoden Inn pub across the road dashed to help restrain him until police arrived.

Ellison had entered the shop wearing a mask at 3pm on Sunday, March 20.

Mr Patel said he is still shaken after the incident and has been unable to eat or sleep properly since.

But he is still opening the shop and said he has had a lot of support.

He said: “What I did was a big risk, but I didn’t have a choice.

"I thought that even if I handed over any money he could still attack me.

“I feared for my life and I did what I could to protect myself and the shop.

"I was so lucky that the golf club was behind the counter.”

Insp Claire Cooper said: “Mr Patel’s actions were extremely brave and commendable and had a very positive result.

"But it is not something that we would recommend everyone attempt.”