A BRAVE florist tackled a knife-wielding thug as he tried to rob her Runcorn shop.

Anita Moorfield was startled when a man suddenly appeared behind her counter on Balfour Street.

“He started brandishing a knife,” said Anita, 49. “He just kept saying: ‘Where’s the money over and over again.

“I said we don’t have cash, we do it all on the internet but he then asked where the till was.”

In a split second, have-a-go hero Anita decided to confront the would-be robber.

“I grabbed his hand that had the knife in it and pushed him back through into the main shop,” she said.

“I yelled for my husband. The minute the man heard Barry’s footsteps flying down the stairs he scarpered.”

Anita immediately phoned the police as Barry, 57, chased the villain.

“I was really worried because my husband didn’t know he had a knife.

“He could have been hurt.”

The terrifying ordeal has left Anita shaken up.

“I always tell people to give robbers what they want,” she said. “But this was my till and my shop and I thought: ‘He ain’t going to get it’.

“I just took a decision to challenge him. I don’t regret it but I wouldn’t do it again. The enormity of what I did is frightening.”

The attempted robbery at Anita’s Blossoming Flowers and Gifts happened shortly before 1pm last Wednesday.

“We are unharmed,” said Anita. “But I am having nightmares and may need counselling to cope with it.”

A passion for flowers inspired Anita to change her career after she nursed her husband Barry as he battled oesophageal cancer in 2010.

After being employed at Astro Zeneca Pharmaceuticals for 20 years, she retrained and qualified as a florist.

Anita now loves her dream job working alongside Barry who prints personalised gifts including mugs, coasters and keyrings.

The couple have been overwhelmed by support and kind wishes from the community.

“Our neighbours, friends and family have been fantastic,” said Anita. “I have received so many lovely messages.

“It has made me all the more determined to keep going. We opened the shop the next day.

“I just hope the police get this man. I wouldn’t like anyone else to go through this.”

The man with the knife is described as being white, around 5ft 8ins to 5ft 9ins tall, aged between 30 and 35, of thin build with short dark brown or black hair.

He was wearing a black zipped up coat and spoke with a strong Liverpool accent.

A man seen outside keeping watch is described as around 5ft 7ins to 5ft 8ins tall, of slim build and aged 20 to 30.

He was wearing a plain grey waterproof jacket with the hood up, dark or black denim jeans and had a plain black rucksack.

A 31-year-old man from Widnes was arrested on suspicion of robbery and has since been released under investigation.

Anyone with information should call Cheshire Police on 101 quoting incident 428 or 13 September.