A SHOPKEEPER has described how he was attacked and robbed by armed men at the weekend, watched by his nine-year-old son.Nigel Mays, 54, of Mays Mini Market, was taken to the James Paget University Hospital to have six stitches put into his finger - cut by a knife wielded by one of the robbers.

A SHOPKEEPER has described how he was attacked and robbed by armed men at the weekend, watched by his nine-year-old son.

Nigel Mays, 54, of Mays Mini Market, was taken to the James Paget University Hospital to have six stitches put into his finger - cut by a knife wielded by one of the robbers.

The cash till and its contents were stolen from the shop on Blackfriars Road in Great Yarmouth, at 4.10pm last Saturday.

Police are now investigating whether the theft is connected with two other robberies in the town in the last few months.

Mr Mays said: “I was kicking a football with my son in the back of the shop because it wasn't very busy. As I looked up, two guys were at the till and one had moved

behind it.

“I asked what the hell they were doing and the other guy grabbed me round the throat and pulled me over the freezer. I could see he had a knife in his hand and I was thinking it might get me in the stomach, so I reached out for the blade and it cut my fingers.

“I only held on for a few seconds but it felt like ages and there was blood all over the place.

“They left with the till. The whole thing must have happened in just under a minute - they were professional and meant business.”

Father-of-three Mr Mays revealed his son had been at the back of the shop and could see what was

going on.

He added: “He is okay, but he was quite shaken up at the time.”

It is believed the men - both described by Mr Mays as very tall - ran off towards St Peters Road and Nelson Road Central.

DC Neil Starland of Yarmouth police said: “There's a lot of work going on to see if there is any link between this and two other recent robberies at knifepoint on Beresford Road and Salisbury Road.”

Two robbers targeted the East of England Co-op on Beresford Road, demanding cigarettes and the contents of the tills at 9pm on Saturday, October 31.

On Monday, November 16, a robber on his own entered the Premier Stores on Salisbury Road at around 5.30pm and threatened a member of staff, ordering them to open the till before making off with cash.

Anyone who witnessed the Mays Mini Market incident or saw two men running away from the shop should contact DS Graeme Talbot at Yarmouth CID on 0845 456 4567 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 55511.