A gang of would-be robbers armed with hammers was sent packing by a grandmother wielding a broom. Anne Withers, 55, attacked three hooded men with her 4ft brush when they raided the convenience store where she works.

The thieves, carrying claw hammers, burst into Premier News in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, as Mrs Withers was opening up the shop with her boss, Guljinder Hayer. They began beating Mr Hayer and demanding cash.

However, they did not reckon upon encountering Mrs Withers. Emerging from an aisle, she battered the youths repeatedly with her broom and eventually sent them scurrying for the door. "They turned pale and ran away as soon as I started hitting them," she said yesterday: "They weren't going to get anything out of this shop. How dare they come in and try to steal money. I was livid because I'm the type of person who can't stand people like that."

Mr Hayer, who was treated for cuts and bruises after Monday's incident, said: "Anne is a real hero. She really saved the day."