NORTH YORKSHIRE: Twenty-four year old Sundeep Kaur was running her father’s shop alone on Friday afternoon in Coulby Newham, North Yorkshire, when three hooded thugs walked in. 

She said she knew it was ‘fight or flight’ time as the suspects burst into the shop demanding cash.

But in an act of incredible bravery, as one of the masked trio brandished a knife at her, Sundeep Kaur stepped towards them and produced a can of criminal identifier spray which she aimed at their faces.

Sundeep Kaur, from Stockton, said the shop is run by her father, Gurcharan Singh, who’s had it for around 10 years.

She is trained in the Sikh martial art of Gatka which which gave her the confidence to stand up and be counted.

Footage of the incident shows how two of the suspects walk into the store with their faces covered, before a third springs forward and brandishes a large knife.

He thrusts it towards Sundeep Kaur who throws her arms up to defend herself.

She then sprays them with the dye spray as the knife-wielding robber retreats shielding their face.

The suspect in the black jacket then steps forward before also being sprayed in the face and backing off. All three of them proceed to hastily run out of the door.

The incident happened at around 2pm on Friday at the shop on Thistle Rise, Coulby Newham.

Cleveland Police are now hunting the suspects. A spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that police are investigating an attempted robbery. They state that no arrests have taken lace so far and inquiries are ongoing.

The actions and bravery exhibited by Sundeep Kaur are being commended by members of the Sikh and wider community.