The moment two pensioners barricaded a knife-wielding man into the shop he was robbing

Ron Smith and Robert Anderson have received a commendation from Greater Manchester Police for their help in preventing the robbery

Ron Smith, 78, later joined by fellow pensioner Robert Anderson, barricaded the robber inside the shop (Youtube)

Two Manchester pensioners aided the arrest of a knife-wielding robber when they barricaded him into the shop he was robbing.

The men, Ron Smith, 78, and Robert Anderson, 72, have since received a commendation from Greater Manchester Police, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Their actions - as well as the ordeal of the female shop assistant who faced the robber, 19-year-old Liam Redford - were caught on CCTV cameras.

The footage shows the moment Redford threatened the shop assistant inside the P and H Convenience store with a knife and demanded she fill a hold-all with cash and cartons of cigarettes.

Outside the shop, Mr Smith, who saw the robbery, holds the door closed so that Redford cannot escape. He is joined by Mr Anderson.

Redford appears to panic and attempts to get out the backdoor, but is unable to do so. He later climbs out of a window and is arrested by a police officer.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News Mr Smith described how Redford had been "going daft" in the shop.

"He gave the shop assistant all the stuff back and the next thing he was coming out of the window," he is quoted in an article on the paper's website as saying.

Redford, from Salford, pleaded guilty to the robbery and is serving a two-year sentence at a young offender's institute.