A DUMBARTON woman robbed at knifepoint in her newsagents scared the thief away with a colander.

Sheila Monaghan, 58, and her son managed to scare the man away after he stole a small sum of cash from M&M Stores on Bonhill Road on Tuesday at 10.40am.

“The biggest laugh is, the police usually come by for their rolls around 10.30,” Ms Monaghan said.

“Any other morning, they would have probably been waiting for the guy."

She explained how the terrifying event happened.

“Nothing like this has ever happened before,” Ms Monaghan said.

“I was up the back of the shop when he walked in and bent down behind the counter. I assumed it was a delivery guy.

“He stood up and I saw the knife and realised 'oh, that's not the delivery guy'.

“He started screaming at me to open the till.

“I didn't know if he had already attacked my son, that was the scariest part."

Thinking about the welfare of her adult son – who, it later transpired, had stepped away from the main shop area – Ms Monaghan swung into action.

“I started screaming at him and picked up a colander to swing at him,” she added with a laugh.

Her son, Kieran, then returned, pressed a panic alarm and chased the man along Meadow Road. At that point, Ms Monaghan fainted, falling to the floor of the shop.

She added: “Thankfully, a couple of passers-by came to help me.

"It just shows you what the people around here are like. We would like to thank everyone from the community who came to help.”

Police Scotland has issued an appeal for a white man, around 5ft 4ins with short black hair and an Irish accent on Tuesday.

He was last seen on Townhead Road heading towards Bellsmyre wearing a black bomber jacket, black trousers, black trainers and sunglasses

Detective Constable Bruce Fyfe, from Clydebank CID, said: “Thankfully nobody was hurt during this incident but staff were still left badly shaken by what happened.

“We are currently carrying out enquiries including examining CCTV and speaking to local residents to gather as much information as possible to help us trace the person responsible.

“I would appeal to anyone who may have seen a man matching this description in the area or anything suspicious to contact officers at Clydebank CID on 101.

“Alternatively you can call CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111 where details can be given in confidence.”