AN ARMED robber using a samurai sword to threaten a female shop assistant fled when she turned the tables and punched him.

At about 6.45am, on March 25, the assistant noticed a man behaving suspiciously near the Spar shop at Lancelyn Precinct, Spital.

About ten minutes later, the same man is believed to have entered the store wearing a yellow face mask and armed with a samurai sword.

He threatened the staff member and demanded that she go in to the rear office.

But she refused and the man jumped over the counter and chased her in to the front of the store - where she hit him.

The would-be robber was aged 18 to 23, 5ft 10in to 6ft 2in, with dark hair.

He was wearing a black hoodie, black tracksuit bottoms and black footwear.

Anyone who has any information should contact Wirral CID on 0151 777 2265, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.