A BRAVE young shop worker who foiled sword-wielding thieves during an attempted armed raid on a Greenock shop has spoken of her terrifying ordeal for the first time.

In an exclusive interview with the Tele, plucky Julie Crighton, right, told how she managed to fend off two would-be robbers after they burst into Cowden’s in Lynedoch Street while she was on duty.

One of the hoodie-wearing pair brandished a sword at the 22-year-old – then demanded she empty the till.

But the courageous counter assistant stood her ground and refused to hand over any cash — then incredibly chased the masked duo out of the shop.

Julie, who lives in Greenock, told the Tele: “The first few seconds I thought ‘are you kidding?’. I just couldn’t believe what was happening to me.

“Then I got kind of angry and thought ‘this isn’t right, you’re not getting away with this’.

“It was the first time anything like this has happened to me and I was probably in a bit of shock.

“There were two of them and they came to the counter and I went right up to them — and they just bolted.

“I couldn’t believe it was happening to me — two big guys coming in carrying a huge blade. It’s not an everyday situation.” The attack happened in broad daylight and the would-be thieves left empty-handed.

They ran off along Hope Street in the direction of Antigua Street. The pair were described as being in their late teens or early 20s and spoke with local accents.

One suspect is described as around 5ft 9ins tall, of thin build and was wearing a black hooded top and dark-coloured jogging bottoms. He was carrying a black holdall.

The other was also described as of thin build, around 5ft 7ins to 5ft 8ins tall, and was wearing a grey hooded tracksuit top with matching bottoms.

Police detectives praised the have-a-go hero Julie for her bravery, but the modest shopworker said she did nothing out of the ordinary.

Julie said: “Hero? I certainly don’t think so. It wasn’t like I was saving anybody but it’s nice of people to congratulate me. I’ve had some say ‘good on you’ and a couple of people saying next time I should just hand over the money!

“There wasn’t really a moment at all though where I was going to give them it.

“All I remember was just being generally annoyed. I was a bit jumpy right after the incident, but I’m fine now.

“If I’m in alone and there’s a young guy in the shop himself, I now take a closer look. It does makes you a bit more cautious.” Despite coming to terms with her ordeal, Julie says the incident has meant she is looking for another job.

She said: “I like working with the people and the job itself is okay, but it’s just not worth it anymore, I would rather work somewhere else where there’s no risk of being mugged or people trying to take money off you.

“It’s definitely put me off staying on for any length of time. Staff and the bosses have been great, but it’s had an impact on me. I hope those responsible are caught, especially after coming in with a weapon that size. Even owning something like that is wrong.” Anyone with information about the attempted robbery, which took place on 16 March, can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.