Hero is awarded gallantry medal

Mr Crompton (white vest) was stabbed in the confrontation

A man who was stabbed eight times as he tackled two armed robbers is to be awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal.

Anthony Crompton's actions during the raid at the garage in Skelmersdale in 2005 were described as "life saving".

He single-handedly took on the two armed men and managed to remove their masks despite being stabbed eight times during the struggle.

Police were able to track down the robbers from DNA on the masks and they were later jailed.

The 24-year-old will be awarded the medal at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace later.

Shop assistant Barbara Trussell said she feared for her life as two men, armed with a knife, burst into the garage.

The pair threatened her, threw her on the floor and then rifled through the till.

Bravery awards

Anthony Crompton, 24, entered the shop moments later and said he knew instantly what he had to do.

"I saw two women in need of help, I've known the people there a long time, and I thought I've got to act, I've got to do at least something," he said.

Barbara Trussell said Mr Crompton saved her life

Mr Compton has won a number of awards for his bravery, including the Pride of Britain award.

Police were able to track down the robbers from DNA on the masks and they were later jailed for more than six years.

Det Insp Chris Wilde, of Lancashire Constabulary, said: "Without Anthony's intervention and their masks being dislodged they might have got away with it and gone onto bigger things."

Imran Mahmood, 18, of Taunton Avenue, Leigh, and Rehan Mahmood, 18, of Wigan, both later pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and wounding.

They each received sentences of six years and eight months.

Imran Mahmood's girlfriend, Marian Zahedi, 19, of Upholland, who was working in the garage when the robbery took place, also received a two-year sentence for robbery and attempting to pervert the course of justice.