A BUTCHER has told how a burglar chased his neighbours with a knife threatening to cut their heads off after they tried to stop him ransacking the business.

The terrifying drama unfolded when a burglar broke into the shop in Bishopstoke but was spotted by neighbours who were alerted to a commotion, then realised what was going on.

According to the butchers, when two neighbours shouted at him to stop the man in a hoodie jumped onto the counter and out of the shop window, brandished a knife and chased them down the street shouting threats.

The incident, which unfolded at the LJ Smith Family Butchers, in Riverside, and was captured on CCTV, saw the neighbours run to a property for safety where they locked the door and called police.

Pip Smith, whose dad Les started the business, said the burglar came within five feet of them.

“He said ‘I’m going to cut your head off, I’m going to kill you’,” said Pip.

“One neighbour said ‘I was absolutely scared stupid’.”

According to Pip, the man went back to the butchers smashed a large side window with a paving slab.

But when police arrived he had gone, escaping with around £500 cash.

A major search operation was launched with police dogs but officers were unable to locate the thief.

Pip told how cash had been taken out of the till and the safe pulled off the wall.

Forensics have scoured the premises for clues.

Pip said the man had been described as white, in his 20s, of slim build, dressed in black and wearing a dark hoodie up over his head.

Pip, 46, from Luggershall, who runs the butchers with his 72-year-old father, sister Donna Smith, 47, and mum Wendy told how the business had been targeted in an attempted burglary two weeks ago and believes the same people could be responsible.

To add to the drama, the business had also just been hit by a power surge the week before which knocked out air conditioning units and other electrical equipment.

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Now the family are left with repairs worth hundreds of pounds.

“We have just got to piece together what we have lost - the financial loss and the damage,” said Pip, who said they had also been touched by the community’s sympathy.

“We’re just gutted.”

Les, from Hedge End, added: “We work really hard for what we earn - you don’t expect somebody to do that. It’s disrespectful. It’s an invasion of privacy to us as it’s almost like a home.”

Police confirmed they were investigating the break-in at the property, which unfolded between 1.35am and 1.45am on Monday and said a suspect had run off towards the Toby Carvery restaurant.

Anyone with information should call Eastleigh Police on 101.