A 67-YEAR-OLD shop worker who pinned robbers to the floor after they beat him up was honoured last night for his bravery.

Newport shopworker, Anwar Ulhaq, 67, was working in Alexandra Stores, Alexandra Road, Pill, on January 6 this year putting milk in the fridge, when a man and a woman came into the shop.

Mr Ulhaq said: "I thought they were just customers, but then I was hit in the head with a wooden stick. Another person hit me over my mouth and my face and he told me to sit on the floor."

He said the two robbers, who were both wearing scarves over their faces, went behind the counter, one opening the till and the other taking cigarettes. Seizing his chance to get away, Mr Ulhaq ran for the door and held it shut behind him, but the robbers followed hitting him again in the face.

A lorry driver, who was delivering in the street outside, came to Mr Ulhaq's aid and the two men held the robbers to the floor. Mr Ulhaq said it was only when he was wrestling one of the attackers to the floor that the scarf moved and he realised it was a woman.

The police were called and Mr Ulhaq was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital, where he stayed for 24 hours receiving treatment for cuts and injuries to his head.

Mr Ulhaq, a former Pakistani soldier who has lived in Newport for the past five years, said he wasn't frightened during the incident, but afterwards felt too scared and nervous to continue working in the shop.

He said: "It was the first time it had happened. I wasn't frightened, but I was in a lot of pain. I went back to work about a week afterwards, but kept looking over my shoulder when I was opening up and they were smashing the shop windows trying to scare me."

Mr Ulhaq now works in a shop in Malpas and says he didn't want to let the incident stop him doing his job.

He said: "You have to be prepared already that anything could happen at anytime. It's part of life and I wouldn't want to give up my job just because this has happened."

Mr Ulhaq received the Gwent Hero Award, along with Westley Morgan who came to his aid, at the Gwent Chief Constable's commendations in Blackwood last night.

POLICE Dog Rocky and his handler PC Richard Griffiths received a special recognition award for their work recovering more than £42,000 worth of drugs and £241,000 in cash. Rocky retired in October 2010 after nine years of service and now lives with PC Griffiths and his family.

Former Detective Chief Superintendent Ray Wise, who retired in June, received a lifetime achievement award for his work during his 30 year career including developing a Welsh Extremist and Counter Terrorism unit and Gwent's Major Incident Team.

PC Christopher McGowan received a commendation after arresting two burglars in Coed-y-Paen, near Usk, despite suffering injuries to his back and legs when they rammed his police car.

DI Paul Evans was commended for contribution in fighting organised crime and Newport DC Shelly Barnes for her commitment to supporting victims of serious sexual assault.

Operation Fathom team investigating the murder of Kingsley Monk in New Inn in October 2008, the Operation Meridian team for their investigation into a man making explosives in Blackwood in April 2009, the team that led an operation targetting burglars in Newport and the force's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender liaison team. Llanhilleth PCSO Kay Moseley was named PCSO of the year and PC Jitka Tomkova-Griffiths was named Student Officer of the Year.