CCTV footage captures moment shop workers forced armed robbers into hasty retreat

The staff and customers had only their courage and resourcefulness.

But as these CCTV pictures show, that was enough to repel the gang after a terrifying struggle during which a shot was fired into the floor.

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The ordeal began when four masked thugs, all dressed in black, burst in brandishing two guns and two extendable batons and ordered staff hand over cash.

But rather than cave in to their demands, they fought back and sent the gang fleeing back through the door empty handed.

During the melee a shot was fired into the floor and one worker was bashed over the head with a baton.

The gang members, however, were left battered and bruised and forced to stumble into a waiting car to make a speedy getaway.

Security cameras at Quick Talk Communications in Small Heath, Birmingham, captured the moment bosses, Javaid Khan, 35 and Ash Ali, 35, employee Waheed Mughal, 36, and two customers sprung into action.

Two of the balaclava clad robbers are seen pointing what appears to be 9mm pistols to the heads of Waheed and Ash in a back store room.

But the pair - backed up by Javaid and loyal customers Hafiz Sami and Arshad Butt - catch them off guard momentarily.

A scuffle breaks out in the doorway and the robbers armed with batons are seen beating the workers but their weapons are quickly seized off them.

In the violent struggle, one of the gunmen drops his pistol and the gang are then forced back across the shop floor, through the front door and into the street.

Seconds later a full-scale brawl then breaks out, with chairs being smashed across the robbers backs and one of them being thrown into a lamppost.

They finally beat a hasty retreat, with their tails firmly between their legs, and staggered into a blue Peugeot 106, driven by a fifth man.

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Hero Javaid said yesterday: "Sheer adrenaline took over, it all happened in about five minutes but at the time it felt like hours.

"Four men, two with pistols and two with extendable batons, similar to ones used by the police, burst into the store yelling 'Give us the money now'.

"To begin with we put our hands up and led them to the back of the shop because they had guns and other weapons.

"But while we were there, Hafiz who had seen what was happening, grabbed one of the gunmen by the throat.

"That was the signal for mayhem as all hell broke loose. Fighting broke out in the doorway and the robbers with the batons were hitting us.

"The other gunman fired a shot into the floor as a warning for us to back off but I grabbed his pistol so he no longer had control of it.

"Luckily the others had managed to subdue the ones with batons and things looked as though they were calming down until we got them outside.

"Punches were then thrown and they were trying to wriggle free because we had them in head and arm locks.

"Chairs were being smashed over their backs and I shoved the one I was struggling with into a lamppost.

"But one of their accomplices, who was in the getaway car, jumped out when he spotted the commotion and threatened us with a crook lock if we didn't let them go.

"We released our grip and they literally stumbled into this Peugeot because they had taken a severe beating.

"Apparently one of them suffered a dislocated shoulder but they have nobody to blame but themselves."

Javaid's business partner Ash added: "They got everything they deserved.

"We probably looked like easy pickings to them but they got a nasty surprise that's for sure.

"At no point did we feel scared for our lives because it happened that quickly that we didn't have time for fear. We just went for it.

"Hafiz and Arshad were brilliant, without them, we wouldn't have been able to cope.

"We don't consider ourselves particularly brave or heroes. We were just protecting our business."

West Midlands Police praised their bravery, but added: "We would advise people not to do anything that could put themselves at risk."

Detective Sergeant Mark Burnell, from the Stechford robbery team of West Midlands Police praised the staff for their actions.

He said: "A number of masked offenders have entered the premises and demanded money.

"But the staff said 'no' and fought back. The gang probably thought they could get the better of the owners but were outnumbered.

"The shopworkers were brave but we would advise people not to do anything that could put themselves at risk or result in them being injured themselves."

Police have charged three men.