A SHOP customer has spoken of the terrifying moment when a man brandished a gun at him and pulled the trigger.

Philip Rushby was in Fox Lane Stores, Thorpe Willoughby, when he saw a youth threatening owners John and Brenda Kirby.

The have-a-go customer didn't think twice as he sprang into action and forced the youth out of the premises.

But outside the shop a terrified Mr Rushby found himself staring at a gun.

The 44-year-old Yorkshire water technician said: "In the seconds before he pulled the trigger I thought that was it.

"Only when it made a funny clicking sound did I realise it was an air pistol that fortunately wasn't loaded.

"He was aiming the pistol at my chest. I'm just very glad and relieved that I'm still here to talk about it."

Mr Rushby, of Pine Tree Close, Thorpe Willoughby, added: "All I was interested in was calming the situation down.

"The young man was getting more and more agitated inside the shop and after asking him to leave, I just pushed him right out of the shop."

The youth then ran off as a shaken Mr Rushby returned to the store.

Shop owner Mr Kirby said he had earlier refused to serve the youth alcohol, and he had left without any trouble.

But 25 minutes later he returned in a different mood.

"His eyes were all puffed up and red. He asked me why I wouldn't serve him and I told him I thought he had had enough," said Mr Kirby, who then phoned police as the youth became abusive and threatening.

He said: "Mr Rushby marched him quickly outside. I heard someone shouting he had got a gun and I told police to get here as quickly as they could."

Mrs Kirby said: "The youth was swearing and I told him to curb his language, but the more I said that, the more he was swearing.

"I thought he was going to hit me - it was very frightening."

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire police said that a large number of youths were outside the shop at the time.

She added: "We take all incidents involving weapons very seriously."

Anyone with information should contact Selby police on 01757 702596.

Updated: 14:20 Monday, September 24, 2001