Armed robber tried to steal sandwich

A night shift worker has told how a teenager held a gun to his head - and tried to steal his cheese and onion sandwich.

Garry Bell, 51, was on his way to work at a factory in Tindale, near Bishop Aukland, when it happened, reports The Advertiser.

The would-be robber pushed a black handgun against his temple and tried to grab his pack-up, containing the sandwich, a bag of crisps and a bottle of pop.

"It was then that I got angry and swore at him and he ran off," said Mr Bell. "I just carried on walking."

He continued on his way to work and completed his shift. It was only when he told his girlfriend next day what had happened that he called police.

"I just thought it was a prank and that it was a toy gun," added Mr Bell.

"It was only later that I realised it might not have been, and even if it was just a BB gun, if it had gone off against my temple, it probably could still have killed me."

Detective Constable Peter Lonsdale, said: "It is unclear whether this was a real gun, a replica, or one which fires ball bearings, but of course the victim had no way of knowing.