A HEROIC newsagent used a wooden bat to fight off masked yobs who tried to rob cash from his till.

Brave Stewart Evans, 57, laughed in the face of the armed raiders before launching his incredible counter-attack.

Amazing CCTV images of the incident show the crooks looking shocked by Stewart's onslaught before fleeing empty handed.

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It is the third time in two years that the newsagent has battled armed thugs at his Middleton Junction shop and come out on top.

Stewart, who has crippling arthritis and relies on a walking stick, said: “They didn't get away with anything - apart from a few lumps on their heads. When I first saw them come in I thought 'not again'. But as long as I've got my trusty bat with me I'm not bothered.

“There are too many of these goons about and you've got to stand up for yourself. What else are you going to do? Ask them to help themselves while you go and brew up?"

The two thugs entered F and SG Evans, on Grimshaw Lane, on Saturday at 6.25am as Stewart was laying out his morning papers.

One man demanded cash from the till, causing the newsagent to first laugh and then produce a bat, which he hit the robber over the head with. 

The second man then approached the newsagent and started lashing out at him with a chain, but Stewart fought back and caught him with two blows to the head.

Both startled attackers then ran off as a regular customer walked in. Stewart suffered only slight injuries in the incident.

Two men of similar descriptions to the attackers were seen trying to break in to a garage on nearby Sedgley Street about five minutes later. Police are treating the two incidents as linked.

Stewart, from Royton, successfully defended his shop on two occasions in 2006.  He fought off a gang of masked yobs wielding samurai swords after they burst into his shop in March.

In August, Stewart and his pensioner mum Florence Evans battled thugs brandishing a knife and metal bar.

Both sets of robbers left with nothing.

The first man in the latest attack is described as about 6ft, large build and wearing a black jacket and a balaclava.

The second offender is described as a white male, thin build and wearing a grey hooded top with a black hat.

Anyone with information on the attempted robbery is asked to call Greater Manchester Police on 0161 872 5050 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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