A FIERCE 11-year-old girl has been branded a "brave" hero after frightening off a knife-wielding robber - by throwing a loaf of bread at him.

The youngster was shopping with her dad when the crook burst into the small corner shop branding a huge knife.

As the veiled intruder threatened the shopkeeper to hand over the cash, the quick-thinking preteen and her dad started hurling bread, cans and squash bottles at him.

Police have since released the shop's CCTV footage, showing the robber flinch and then flee empty-handed as the heroic girl pelted him with groceries.

The dad and daughter were trapped in the narrow convenience store, which is only about 15 metres long by three metres wide, when the armed crook entered.

He approached the till which faces the door at the front of the shop demanding the cash with his knife, while CCTV cameras spanning the whole store captured his every move.

From close quarters, the brave pair grabbed at cans, cordial and bread stocked on the shelves and began throwing them at the intruder until he left.

Nole (corr) Shipley, who lives just doors from the corner shop in Worthing, West Sussex, said: "It was very brave of them.

"It's great that they didn't just stand by and let him rob the shop.

"I'm sure some people would have just stood there scared and not wanting to get involved.

"I'm surprised an attempted robbery happened in this area.

"It's really quite a nice place. There's a park nearby which is used by all sorts of people and everyone says 'hello' when they see you."

One of the shopkeepers Kumar Arumu, who was off duty during the incident, added: "My boss's friend was watching over the store at the time.

"He doesn't even work here and was just doing my boss a favour while he dealt with a family issue.

"My boss owns several businesses in Worthing and as far as I know, nothing like this has happened before."

The corner shop, in a safe area of the seaside town, is popular with many locals.

Another resident, Danny Zottola, 57, added: "I have bought my paper at the shop for years.

"I was shocked to hear what happened, because it's usually safe around here.

"Everyone is very polite in the shop."

The incident happened at 10pm, just an hour before closing time at the red-fronted convenience store, which sits the corner of a quiet residential through-road lined with rows of terraced houses.

It is less than half a mile from Worthing town centre and its popular seafront promenade.

The shop is near the town train station, and situated in a small shopping arcade.

CCTV cameras cover the entire shop, with live recordings visible on a plasma screen facing the till and entrance.

Nobody was hurt in the incident, and police are now appealing for more information to track the foiled robber.