A GRANDFATHER has been given a bravery award after stopping an armed man from robbing a supermarket.

Jim Crocker, 62, of Chatsworth Drive, Banbury, grabbed the thief by the arm to stop him fleeing Morrison's supermarket with the takings. Mr Crocker said he was "85 per cent" sure that the gun wielded by the man was a fake.

Mr Crocker, who recently had to retire from his job packing medicine for DHL because of angina, had been due to go to the hospital the following day for a stress test.

His bravery was rewarded when he was presented with a High Sheriff's award of £400 at Oxford Crown Court by Judge Julian Hall.

When asked if he thought he was brave, Mr Crocker joked: "I'm either that or stupid, I'm not sure. There were lots of things going through my head at the time.

"Most importantly I was thinking 'he's not going to get away with that.' I went up to him and said 'you don't want to do this, you'll end up in jail.' He just had this blank look on his face like he was thinking 'this wasn't how I planned it.' "My wife was screaming at me, saying 'what the hell are you doing, don't do that', but it was just one of those things."

Mr Crocker was shopping with his wife Kathryn at the supermarket on June 3 last year and was queuing at the till when he saw the man approach the cashier and demand money.

Mr Crocker said he was sure the gun was fake, from having experience with weapons during his time in the RAF. He said: "I took a close look at the gun he was holding and I could see the muzzle wasn't quite right.

"I told him that I thought it was a fake, but he kept pointing the gun at me. Finally he put it down."

Mr Crocker then held the gunman at the store for 15 minutes until the police arrived. The gun proved to be a replica, and the robber was convicted at Oxford Crown Court last month.

Presenting him with the prestigious award last Friday, Judge Hall told Mr Crocker: "It is extremely unusual to find someone who goes that extra mile. You showed extreme bravery."

The judge entertained Mr Crocker and his family for lunch in his chambers at court and the grandchildren were even allowed to try on some of the barristers' wigs.

Speaking of the accolade, Mr Crocker said: "I feel very honoured, as I understand that not many of these awards are given away."