A brave young post office worker who took on a gunman is lucky to be alive after the robber fired a pistol at him – but it failed to go off.

The 23-year-old was taken hostage at a Putney post office last Tuesday, but refused to hand over any money tackled the raider.

The thief stormed the post office in Upper Richmond Road, at the junction with Dover House Road, at about 12.20pm and grabbed the worker.

His aunt, Mrs Rana, 50, who runs the post office, said: “The man went straight up to my nephew and said ‘Give me the money, otherwise I’ll shoot him’.

“We were not going to give him the money just like that.

“He started shouting ‘Five, four, three’. Then my nephew jumped on him.

“He pulled the trigger but luckily nothing came out. Thank God no one was hurt.”

He fled the shop and fired the gun outside – this time it went off but no one was injured.

The man ran off towards Putney Park Lane.

Mrs Rana was in the post office with another worker when her nephew was shot at during the attack on June 8.

They called the police in a state of shock but bravely opened up again several hours later.

She said: “We had to open up, just to show them that we are not scared of them.”

The robber, who is thought to have had two accomplices waiting outside, was a white man aged between 19 and 25 and was wearing a grey hoodie.

Police closed the road on Tuesday afternoon to search for forensic evidence and have been studying CCTV footage from inside the shop.

Officers from the Barnes Flying Squad are investigating.

Detective Constable Tim Mustoe said: “We always encourage people to dial 999 and seek our help as soon as possible. However, we applaud the bravery of members of the public who intervene and come to the aid of victims of crime.”

Anyone with information should call 020 7230 8666.

A 19-year-old man, arrested in connection with the incident on Monday, June 14, was bailed to return pending further inquiries.