AN ELDERLY newsagent was pistol-whipped by raiders who demanded cash from the till.

Keith Duncan told today how he feared his wife Brenda, 72, would be killed by the robbers, who threatened them at gunpoint and hit her around the head.

The gunmen struck as Mr Duncan, 71, was having supper at Gems Newsagents in South Street, Lancing.

He said: "I heard all this shouting and screaming. I rushed out into the shop and immediately had a gun pointing at my head.

"I was forced on to the floor and pinned down behind the counter by one of them, while the other was holding my wife in the corner, trying to get her to open the till.

"I couldn't see what was happening to my wife and I heard them screaming at her to open it.

"She wouldn't, which I've since told her was very silly, but she was just stalling for time."

Mrs Duncan was hit round the head with the gun and her husband shouted at her to open the till. She tried but it jammed.

He said: "They let me get up and I managed to open it. They grabbed the money, about £200, and vaulted over the counter and ran off.

"She was hit on the forehead. There was plenty of blood.

"All sorts of things were going through my mind. I felt more angry than anything at the time, and it was only afterwards that I felt frightened at what could have happened."

Mrs Duncan was taken to Worthing Hospital but was not seriously hurt.

Mr Duncan said: "I can't understand these sort of people at all. It goes through your mind that she could have died."

The couple, who have run the newsagents for 24 years and were also robbed nine months ago, were open for business again the day after Friday night's raid. Mr Duncan said: "You can't let these things affect and upset you."

Two men and a woman were arrested early on Saturday in Southwick and a handgun recovered. The three were released on police bail.

Officers are appealing for witnesses to contact Det Con Sue Morgan on 0845 60 70 999.

Det Insp Paul Williams said: "This robbery was particularly nasty because it involved force against an elderly couple."

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