A TEENAGE girl thwarted a thief by slamming the till drawer on him as he tried to snatch cash from a village store.

The offender fled empty-handed from the Inkberrow shop yesterday at around 4pm.

Police said the girl, who was believed to be alone in the shop, acted in a "brave manner".

The would-be thief entered the shop and chose a packet of chewing gum.

"He put 20p on the counter and as she opened the till he reached over and tried to grab money from the till," said Sgt Louise Meeson of Redditch police.

"But she slammed the till and he ran off empty- handed. She screamed as she did it.

"Although this must have been a frightening experience she acted in a brave manner."

A friend of the shop assistant said she had been "very upset and shocked" during the brief ordeal.

The police helicopter was scrambled and officers are also appealing for information on a Q-registration white Maestro seen in the area at the time.

The offender was described as scruffy, 5ft 6in tall, of a stocky build and he was wearing a black tank top.

News of the incident spread through Inkberrow with many villagers unable to recall a serious crime ever having taken place there.

"It's a quiet village and when something happens like this everyone is a bit shocked," said villager Neil Badger, who learned of the incident after popping into the Old Bull Inn.

"Police were everywhere and came into the pub to get descriptions."

Anyone with information can contact Redditch police on 01527 584888 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.