SHOPKEEPER Vera Garrick sent a masked gunman fleeing by pelting him with Rollos.

The armed robber levelled a handgun at the pensioner's head and demanded cash.

Undaunted, the 70-year-old picked up packs of the sweets and started throwing them at the thug and his accomplice - who promptly turned tail and fled.

Mrs Garrick, of Sunderland, said: "They were not very professional and I did not really take it seriously, at first.

"But, when he levelled the gun, I knew they were not messing around.

"I was more angry than frightened and I picked up the nearest thing to hand, which happened to be a box with packets of Mini Rollos inside.

"I started flinging packets at him and they thought better of what they were up to.

"I had a few packets left, which is just as well because I would not have wasted my last Rollo on those two."

Police said the gunman was 5ft 7in and stocky. He wore a black stocking mask.

The second raider was 6ft and skinny. He wore a camouflage jacket, a brimmed hat and carried a sports holdall.

A police spokesman said: "Mrs Garrick was very courageous, but our advice to the public is not to be a hero in situations like that."