A Bristol shop worker was hit over the head with an iron bar as he foiled a robbery.

George Harper was stunned when the robber used a stone birdbath to smash through the front door of McColls Newsagent in Filton Avenue, Filton, as he cashed up.

The robber then kicked through the security door at the back of the shop to get to the 24-year-old and his two colleagues.

Student Mr Harper handed over £200 in cash but refused to lead the robber to the safe. When he also refused to let the robber out of the back door he was struck over the head with an iron bar.

But after recovering his senses the first thing Mr Harper did was jump to his feet and attempt to chase the robber down the street, cutting his leg on the smashed door as he gave chase.

Amazingly the following morning Mr Harper turned out for SWYD United Sunday league team and played a full 90 minutes.

Mr Harper, who is studying criminology at the University of the West of England, said: "The silly thing is, all I could think afterwards was that I mustn't miss football because I didn't want to lose my place."

The drama unfolded at around 10.15pm on Saturday night, and Mr Harper said: "I had just had locked the front door.

"I was cashing up in the back office and heard a big smash.

"I thought he would just steal cigarettes and spirits from behind the till but he ran over and kicked his way into the back office and I could see he was carrying an iron bar.

"I gave him the £200 from the till. He was demanding I take him to the safe but there was no way I was going to do that.

"First, I didn't want him to get any more money and secondly I didn't want to leave my colleagues on their own.

"He was wearing a baseball cap and scarf over his face and was very aggressive and aggravated but I was just running on adrenalin.

"He was very aggressive and threatening to hurt me so I pretended like I was fiddling with the door and said that it wouldn't open and then he hit me over the back of the head.

"I fell to the floor and may have blacked out briefly but I was angry and jumped up and ran after him.

"The most annoying thing is that he got away and I cut my leg on the door he smashed."

Simon Whitby, of Avon and Somerset police, confirmed that police were called to the store at 10.18pm.

No arrests have yet been made. Anyone with any information should contact police on 0845 4567000.