A NEWSAGENT had the fright of his life when he was confronted by a man wielding an axe in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Alwyn Schroeder, manager of Martin’s in Blue Boar Row, Salisbury, was setting up tables outside the shop when he saw a hooded man dressed completely in black, walking towards him carrying a hatchet.

Mr Schroeder said: “I ran straight into the shop where my wife, Gloria, was sorting out the papers.

“We locked the door and called the police, and stayed on the phone to them until they arrived.

“It wasn’t what you expect when you turn up in the morning.”

Police were called at 4.12am and responded “within a couple of minutes” with a van and three cars carrying officers authorised to fire Tasers.

Inspector Pete Sparrow said the man had told officers he was scraping fly-posters from shop windows with the blade of the axe. Officers told him to drop the weapon, but the man then started to undress.

The axe was taken from him, and he was forced to the ground before being driven to Bourne Hill police station. He was assessed as having mental health problems and released with no further action.

Mr Schroeder, who has managed the shop with his wife for 20 years, said: “We have never experienced anything like this before.

Of course we see all sorts, with homeless people and drunkards, but never something as serious as this.

“It was all a bit frightening to be honest, and I am a little nervous for the mornings now, but the police were very good and it did not take them very long to come.”

Describing the event as a oneoff occurrence, he said: “It could have happened to anyone, but the police were brilliant and did a great job.

“But I think we are going to need a holiday after this.”