I'm no hero, says Oldbury salon owner's husband who fought off raiders

National Express worker George Davies, aged 64, sprung into action to protect Suzanne's Hair Fashions after raiders barged in and demanded money.

He stood up and started pushing the thugs backwards before they eventually fled empty-handed.

Mr Davies's wife Sue, 61, who has run the salon for the past 28 years, said: "George jumped up and started shouting 'get out of here, get out of here.' He was pushing them backwards. Eventually they just ran out.

"We followed them out and they ran out towards Richmond Hill. I was very impressed." The two masked men entered the salon in Basons Lane just before 4.30pm on Tuesday.

One of them grabbed the wrist of one the young stylists while the other followed another stylist – Mr and Mrs Davies's 37-year-old daughter - into a rear kitchen.

And that is where they came face to face with the grandfather-of-one, who today played down his bravery.

"I was just acting on instinct," said Mr Davies, also of Basons Lane.

"I just wanted to do something to try and protect them. I'm not a hero, I just did what anyone would have done in my position."

He added: "I did not worry about getting hurt. Of course I have thought about it since – they could have had knives. But I didn't think about it at the time."

Just minutes after the salon was targeted on Tuesday, a second salon was raided two miles away and police have said they are linking the attacks.

On that occasion two men stormed into Divas Hair and Beauty in Newbury Lane and threatened staff and a customer before escaping with more than £1,000 cash and jewellery.

The 54-year-old customer's purse was among the items taken.

One of the men is believed to be over 6ft tall and of a large build. He was wearing a black jacket and bottoms. The other man was slim, around 5ft 8ins and was dressed in black.