THIS was the terrifying moment when a raider armed with an imitation Uzi machine gun held two shop assistants at gunpoint.

As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo the two female staff members had been forced to put cash into a bag while the robber threatened them with the fake gun.

The assailant was tackled by an unknown have-a-go hero as he tried to leave the One Stop community store on Redlands Lane, Fareham, causing him to drop the cash and his gun.

Today shop franchise holder Carey Lake paid tribute to the two women who do not want to be named. She said: "Both the ladies were shaken by the ordeal but they are both back at work of their own choice.

"They said they weren't going to let this toe-rag alter their lives and stop them from working or doing what they wanted, so the best thing was to come back to work."

Police still searching for the robber have released a closed circuit camera image in the hope that more witnesses will come forward who might have seen the man entering or leaving the shop at 9.15pm last Friday.

DC Gary Towes said: "It is a busy area with takeaway shops around, so we are asking anyone who may have seen this man either before the incident or escaping along the Gillies recreation area to come forward. Although the gun turned out to be a replica it is extremely difficult to tell just by looking at it. This would have been a very frightening experience for the staff."

Police also said a balaclava thought to have been used by the raider had been recovered

Anyone who thinks they saw the raider, described as white, 5ft 6in, of medium build and wearing a balaclava, a grey sweatshirt with a dark stripe and jeans, should contact Fareham CID on 0845 045 4545.