A SHOPPER has told of the terrifying moments a suspected gunman began demanding money from supermarket staff.

Police said the man was detained for making threats to kill at the Tesco store in Aston Lane, in Aston, and officers were last night continuing to question him.

The woman said she saw the 40 year-old man shouting and begging for cash as customers ran for cover.

The eye-witness, who works at an office nearby, had dropped into the store on her way to work at 8.30am yesterday.

The woman, aged in her 30s and who did not wish to be named, said the man was clearly agitated.

She said that staff claimed he had a gun and petrified customers rushed to the exits.

She said: “People were panicking and saying he had a gun.

“I had just entered the store and I saw a lady who had collapsed on to the floor in one of the aisles.

“I could not actually see much of the man but heard him shouting for money.

“I thought he was sitting down by the customer services kiosk in another part of the supermarket.

“I was told by a member of staff that he asked for a bottle of wine and then drank the whole bottle in one go.”

The shopper said she walked to the far end of the store away from the windows facing out on to Aston Lane. Then police arrived and began to lead staff and customers out.