A knife-wielding robber who cut a pregnant shopkeeper was fled empty-handed when members of her family rallied to the rescue.

Sweta Patel, 35, who is 39 weeks pregnant, was injured as she tried to grab a kitchen knife from the man, who had held the blade to her husband's throat.

The knifeman had walked into Joyson's newsagent and off-licence, owned by Sweta and husband Sunil Patel.

Mr Patel was behind the counter of the store in Brighton Road, Lancing.

He shouted at the man who produced a six-inch knife and walked towards him.

The raider, who had covered his face with a hat and scarf, put the knife to the father-of-three's throat and demanded money.

Mr Patel, 43, said: "He shouted for me to open the till.

"I was thinking: 'What is going on?' My children were out the back. I called for a friend to help.

"My friend came into the shop, saw the man and said: 'Leave him alone'."

The friend, who did not want to be named, picked up a bottle of wine from a shelf and tried to fend the robber off.

By this time, eight members of Mr Patel's family had rushed into the store and blocked the raider's escape route.

Faced with so many people, the man released Mr Patel, held the blade above his head and threatened to use it.

Mr Patel said: "My wife tried to get the knife and cut her hand. I picked up a metal basket and hit him on the head twice.

"He did not take anything and ran out the shop but I ran after him."

The knifeman fled to a Ford Fiesta outside the store and was driven away.

Mr Patel said: "I do not scare easily. He is not going to come back because he got a good punishment.

"It will teach him because he might think a shopkeeper is on his own but there could be a whole family out the back."

Mrs Patel said she feared for her unborn baby after the incident, especially when she had labour pains.

She said: "I saw what was happening on the security camera.

"When I came into the shop, I was just worried about my husband. The first day after the raid I was a bit scared, but now I'm just taking it easy."

Mrs Patel's cut did not need stitches but she was treated by ambulance staff who attended the scene. The friend also injured his leg during the scuffle.

The man is described as white, aged 25 to 30, wearing a dark blue woollen hat and a scarf over his face, a dark blue long sleeved top and jeans.

Detective Constable Justine Sayer said: "It has been a terrible ordeal for the victims, although thankfully their injuries are not serious.

"We are keen to trace this man and ask that anyone who may have information should contact us as soon as possible."

The incident happened on Saturday December 21 at 7.30pm but details have just been released.

Anyone who witnessed the attempted robbery or has any information should contact Ms Sayer on 0845 6070999.