TEIGNMOUTH'S town clerk was injured in a struggle with an armed robber at the town hall on Wednesday.
David Tickell was alone in his office on the ground floor of Bitton House at 5.30pm when a young man entered carrying a tack hammer and a three-inch kitchen knife.
Mr Tickell said: 'I was sitting doing some work on the annual report which needs peace and quiet without the phone ringing. My head was buried in the computer when I heard the office door open and I though it must be the caretaker. I walked round the corner of my L-shaped office and a bloke sprung out at me with a hammer and knife in his hand. "This is a robbery, I need drugs, where's the money, I've got a knife', he didn't need to tell me that.'
Mr Tickell persuaded the man that he had no money apart from two fivers in his top pocket which he brought out to show him.
Mr Tickell said: 'I was really fuming and the adrenaline was flowing in the heat of the moment. As the man tried to snatch the cash, I grabbed his wrist and held his knife and hammer up in the air. We then got into a struggle and fell on the floor nearly damaging the computer. The man eventually realised he wasn't going to get any cash and with some assistance he made his escape.'
Mr Tickell was bruised on his elbow, face, shoulders and he also had cut lips and lacerated knuckles.
Mr Tickell was treated on the spot for his injuries by Teignmouth community paramedic Paul Palmer.
The robber, who had been seen in Bitton House previously, is described as white, 5ft 10ins with brown hair about an inch long, clean shaven with a round face. He was wearing a dark-blue sports-style jacket, blue jeans and silver and black trainers. Anyone with any information should call the police on 08705 777 444 quoting JG03965.