FATHER-of-two Paul Reens could only think of how his sons would cope with Christmas without him as he stared down the barrel of a gun.

The forklift driver faced a pistol for what he describes as "a lifetime" while two robbers held up a Securicor driver in Gorse Hill.

The 28-year-old from Uffington had answered a cry for help as he waited to pay in money at HSBC yesterday lunchtime.

He said: "An elderly man with a crutch came rushing in and shouted He needs help'.

"I ran outside and saw the guard being held up by two black men. They had a security box and were asking for more money.

"One of them shouted at me to back away and pointed a small gun in my direction. I couldn't believe it, all I could think of was missing Christmas with my family for something so pointless."

Mr Reens, pictured, who has two sons, Bradley, six, and three-year-old James, stayed still as the two men waited for the guard to open the back of the van.

"I tried to edge back, but I didn't want to move too quickly because they still had the gun pointed at me.

"After about a minute they got nervous and ran away along Edinburgh Road."

Mr Reens stood in shock as a shopkeeper chased the robbers on foot.

Mr Reens said: "I didn't know what to do afterwards, I have never been in a situation like that before.

"I felt a mixture of shock and anger, it happened so quickly and they were so aggressive."

Even worse for Mr Reens was the fact his wife Louise and son James were in the family car close by as the drama unfolded.

He said: "Our car was parked within a few yards of where the security van was.

"My wife said she saw the two men grab the guard and at first it looked like they knew each other.

"It was only when they pulled out the gun that she ducked down and told James to look away.

"I can't imagine what she was going through, knowing that I was out there in the line of fire."