A RESTAURANT owner sent a would-be robber packing by frantically hurling glasses at him.

The culprit turned on his heels and scarpered after taking a few hits during the incident at The Bank, in Middle Street, Taunton.

Jamal Taha had noticed someone lurking outside during the evening and was just locking up when the intruder burst in.

"He suddenly came in and shouted, 'Give me everything'," said Mr Taha.

"I told him to clear off, but he repeated it and took a couple of steps towards me.

"I just grabbed some glasses and threw them at him. I hit him with them a couple of times and a few of them broke.

"He left quite quickly after that."

Mr Taha, who is the bar manager, said when he spotted the culprit outside a few times earlier in the evening he disappeared.

After sending staff home at the end of their shift at around 10.50pm last Wednesday, Mr Taha closed up and starting to clear up.

He added: "I noticed him at the window again. I pulled the blinds down and put the lights off and could see his silhouette in the window.

"That's when he came in and demanded I give him everything.

"It was quite frightening. You think about what you might do if anything like this ever happens, but you don't really know how you'll react until it does happen.

"I've been at The Bank for three and a half years and been in the business for 16 years and this is the first time anything like this has happened."

Mr Taha, who said he had never seen the man before, described him as in his late 40s, about 5ft 9in to 6ft tall, Caucasian and of average build. He was wearing a blue hoodie, with the hood up

"We're very cautious now and have put more protocols in place," he added. "There are a lot of local businesses and I'd urge them to be vigilant."

An Avon and Somerset Police spokeswoman confirmed that officers attended the premises shortly before 11pm in response to reports of an attempted burglary in which nothing was taken.

She added: "An investigation is underway.

"If you have any information or were in the area at the time, please call 101 quoting reference number 5218248629."