A brave shopkeeper who scared off two men threatening her at knifepoint, said her attempted robbers were more frightened than she was.

Gipsy Gladstone was working in Primes Select Convenience store in London Road, North Cheam, when the two masked men came in at about 9pm on Saturday night.

The 30-year-old cashier, of Thornton Heath, was in the store alone when one of the men waved a knife at her and demanded she open the till.

Ms Gladstone told one of the men she would hand over the money over if he put the weapon down.

The quick-thinking shopkeeper then paced backwards and hit the alarm, causing the two men to flee the shop empty-handed.

She said: "They seemed nervous and they didn’t seem professional, but I did think they were going to attack me.

"I just moved back and pressed the alarm.

"They were more frightened than I was, I would definitely say they were amateurs.

"The second guy then saw a customer coming, and they both ran off."

Ms Gladstone said the two men had scarves wrapped around their faces, and were holding what appeared to be kitchen knives.

She also said they looked about 14 to 15 years old, but witnesses who saw them run off said they were older.

Sutton police have confirmed they are searching for two white men in their early 20s.

The shopkeeper, who was back in work on Monday morning, continued: "I was OK afterwards. It is just part of life.

"I won’t be alone in the shop anymore, I feel it would be really stupid for me to be there alone."

Two men came in after the botched robbery and helped her search the surrounding area to track the men down.

Ms Gladstone has worked at the shop since February.

If you have any information call Sutton CID on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.