A HERO store owner who came under attack from two thugs in front of his elderly customers today thanked the local community for their support.

Family businessman Sanjay Singh - who runs the USave store in Arran Avenue in the Oronsay area of Port Glasgow - told the Tele that incidents like this are unheard of in the close-knit neighbourhood.

Appalling CCTV footage seen by the Telegraph shows a man - wearing a unicorn onesie - and a woman appear to verbally abuse him in the shop repeatedly and threaten him with a bottle before the woman spits in his face.

The ordeal went on to for 10 minutes while Mr Singh tried to calmly remove the pair from his store.

Sanjay and his staff are an integral part of the area and have been at the heart of the community's Covid-19 response, helping volunteers and carrying out free home deliveries.

Popular store owner Sanjay, who lives in Kilmacolm, said: "I just kept thinking I had to protect my elderly customers.

"There were three of them in the shop at the time.

"It went on for 10 minutes and they were threatening my daughter, who wasn't there at the time but works in the shop.

"That really upset me.

"We don't get any trouble in the shop - it is a lovely community.

"People have been really shocked at what happened.

"I just had to keep everyone safe.

"I think in this business you develop a thick skin and I can shrug things off easily.

"You have to handle these situations in the right way.

"But I was worried about my customers and my daughter.

"I was calm on the outside but I was sick to the stomach in the inside."

Sanjay says being spat on left him feeling revolted and worried.

He said: "It is disgusting at any time but especially when there is a virus and a pandemic going on."

The shocking CCTV clip shows the woman standing at the counter shouting at Sanjay.

Her male accomplice returns, acting in a threatening manner and swinging a bottle of tonic wine.

He threatens Sanjay, who bravely ushered the thugs to the door.

It was at this point the woman started to throw things from the shelves and then spat on him.

Sanjay and his family have run stores locally for nearly 30 years.

Since taking over at Arran Avenue four years ago the family have become part of the community.

The dad-of-two, pictured with his family, said: "I think we have had only one incident before - and the boy came in the next day to apologise.

"Oronsay is generally a great place to have a store."

Police say their enquiries into the attack are still ongoing and that a male suspect has been identified however officers are still trying to trace him.

Anyone with information about the incident should call Greenock police on 101.