Sign up to our newsletter for the latest Sunderland news Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

This is the moment a shopkeeper defends his newsagents during a terrifying attempted robbery in Sunderland.

CCTV images show a man walk into Max & Sons in Eden Vale and then brandish a large machete towards the shopkeeper.

After a struggle, the suspect ran out of the shop empty handed and the staff member suffered a minor hand injury during the incident.

Police say it happened just after 6am on Saturday morning, November 8, and Acting Detective Sergeant Nick Lawrance said: “The footage is clearly distressing as it shows the man going in armed with the machete and struggling with the shopkeeper.

“This sort of incident is extremely unusual in the area and I’d like to reassure people we’re doing everything we can to trace the man in the CCTV.

“This is why we’ve released the images - we want people to let us know who this is. Someone out there will have information about who this is and I’d encourage them to get in touch with us, anonymously if necessary.

“Even if they think the information is insignificant it could be the vital piece we need.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Northumbria Police on 101 ext 69191 quoting reference 336 08/11/14 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.