A SHOPKEEPER has told of the moment he fought back when masked raiders robbed his store at knifepoint.

Mukesh Patel and wife Alka were working in their Eastleigh convenience store when two men dressed in black wearing balaclavas and hoodies came in demanding money.

The incident unfolded at the Twyford News store, in Twyford Road, with no other customers around.

While one man demanded money from Mrs Patel at the till the other went to the storeroom and began punching and shouting at Mr Patel.

The 54-year-old told how instinct had taken over and he punched back to defend himself as he was punched in the face and body.

During the scuffle he said the man swung at him with a knife but he then managed to pull off his attacker's mask.

As soon as he was unmasked both men ran out of the store.

Mr Patel gave chase and saw them run down St. John's Road but then decided to return to his wife to check she was okay.

Police arrived and searched the area but did not find anyone.

The whole incident lasted less than half a minute.

Mrs Patel, 52, said: "They walked into the shop shouting 'give me the money, give me the money, the money from the till'.

"I said 'okay, I'm getting it'. First of all I thought this can't be real. When he came inside the till area I realised this is no joke."

Mrs Patel now believes the man was holding a knife and even pointing it at her.

She agreed to open the till so the robber moved back near the entrance holding a carrier bag then grabbed the £150 cash.

Mr Patel, who had bleeding from a scratched cheek as a result, said he would do the same again.

"I just fought back," he said.

"The whole thing happened so quickly. It was just an instinct. The police tell me that wasn't a wise thing to do but I didn't have a choice."

Mrs Patel said she was glad their 13-year-old son, who is sometimes in the store, was not there.

"We were both shaken up because it wasn't expected," she said.

"I've never known anybody do that - you know it happens but you never think it will be you."

Nevertheless they have opened the store as usual determined not to let the incident stop them.

"We're both pretty strong, we don't give in that's not what life is about - when you meet crazy people like this you move on," said Mrs Patel.

The couple, from Eastleigh, also told of their anger.

"We work from morning until evening and how dare he come in and take something when we're literally struggling to make ends meet," said Mr Patel.

The man who lost his mask is described as black, around 5ft 9 inches tall, slim and with short curly hair.

The other man was white.

Police are appealing for information or witnesses to the incident, which happened on Monday around 7.35pm, who may have seen the men in the area.

They are asked to call Detective Constable Martin Timmis at the Western Area Investigation Team based at Southampton on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A 33-year-old man has since been arrested and was last night being questioned by officers in connection with the incident.