Video: Shopkeeper Fights Off Knife Robber

A shopkeeper has told how he used a plastic stool to fight off a knife-wielding robber in an incident caught on CCTV.

Akbar Ali was threatened by the attacker as he served customers in his shop in Fauldhouse, West Lothian.

Mr Ali said the man, whose face was covered with a scarf and hood, waved an eight-inch blade at him and demanded he hand over cash.

When the robber tried to grab the till, the shopkeeper picked up the stool and hit him over the head with it.

After striking the man for several seconds, the raider fled empty-handed.

During the ordeal, some customers had remained in the store.

Mr Ali, 54, said: "I think the robber must have been waiting outside. I've lived in Fauldhouse all my life and I thought it was someone having a bit of a joke.

"When I realised what was happening I was shocked, but I didn't want to let him away with the money."

He also told Deadline News: "I lifted up the stool and began defending myself. He had this eight-inch kitchen knife and I kept hitting him with the stool.

"He kept coming back but eventually he just ran off."

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.