A ROBBER held a knife to a pub chef's throat after leaping over the bar to steal cash from the till.

Single mum Maggie Subramani, who has sons aged ten and six, told the Daily Echo that she feared she would never see her boys again.

"I was numb and I just went stiff. I couldn't stop shaking. I thought he was going to use the knife," she said.

"I didn't struggle - I just stood there. There was nothing I could do. If the knife hadn't been there, I could have done something.

"I thought my life was over. All I could think about was what would happen to my children."

The robbery took place at The Coopers Arms in Millbank Street, Northam, where Miss Subramani, 34, runs the kitchens.

At 12.15pm on Monday the man walked into the pub, jumped over the bar and grabbed his victim before holding the knife to her throat.

After taking £200 from the till, he jumped back over the bar and ran out of the pub.

Miss Subramani, of Bitterne, chased her attacker out of the pub and screamed for help, but he made off on a bicycle.

"At the moment I still feel sick," she said.

"My stomach is just turning and I can still see his face. I'm going to return to work, because at the moment I can't afford to stay off. I'm a bit worried about it, but what can you do?"

Detectives in Southampton are appealing for information about the robbery.

A Hampshire police spokesman said: "At the time of the robbery there were a number of cars driving along Millbank Street and people nearby who police believe may have vital information about the incident."

The offender is described as black, aged 19 to 20, of slim build, about 5ft, with short black hair. He was wearing a black woolly hat turned up at the front, a navy blue-and-white silky jacket, black or dark blue trousers and black trainers.

Anyone with information should contact DC Joanne Boyd of Shirley CID on 0845 045 4545 or ring the anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.