A HAVE-A-GO hero foiled a terrifying raid by confronting a gang breaking into a Newport shop.

Local people say about six men in three cars were involved in the raid on the Co-op store, in St John's Crescent, Rogerstone, at 1.10am on Saturday.

The gang forced open the shop's shutters and smashed a window in the door, and local people say they were attempting to break into a cashpoint machine.

Christian Kenyon, 30, was on his way to use a phone box when he saw the raid taking place, and tried to grab one of the hoodie-wearing raiders.

"I tried to grab hold of one of the guys. I thought they would just go," he said.

But the men, thought to be in their twenties, jumped into a red Ford Escort and a black or navy blue estate car.

They started to reverse into him and he was forced to dodge out of the way, he said. One of them struck him and he fell over, bruising his back.

But Mr Kenyon picked up a rock and smashed a window of one of the cars involved, a silver Golf, in an attempt to prevent one of the gang escaping.

The gang sped off seconds before police officers arrived on the scene. Mr Kenyon said: "I was pretty shaken up afterwards but at the time it didn't register.

"I just thought, 'who do they think they are?'"

A resident, who does not want to be named, described the scene as "chaos".

He said one of the cars had a tow bar attached and there was a cable leading into the store.

"It was wrapped around the cashpoint. It looked like they were going to pull it out," the man said.

The cash machine was abandoned at the scene, residents said.

Police say they are investigating the incident. If anyone has any information call Gwent Police on 01633 838111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.