A SHOP manager came within half-an-inch of death after he was brutally stabbed in the neck on Saturday morning by a robber who made off with around £200.

Sarva Harman, 33, was stabbed after a man with a knife walked into Costcutter in Bridge Street, High Wycombe at 8.03am and demanded money.

The attacker forced Mr Harman into a corner, held a knife to his throat and ordered him to open the till, saying: "Do you want to die or open the till?"

But despite going along with the man's demands, Mr Harman was then stabbed in the neck. The robber also banged Mr Harman's head against the till at least three times during the ordeal.

The man took around £200 and ran out of the shop towards Desborough Road, leaving the father-of-three bleeding.

Sri Lankan Mr Harman managed to call the police despite his injury. He was taken to Wycombe Hospital before being transfered to Slough's Wexham Park Hospital where he was later discharged.

Salik Mughal, owner of the shop, said he was deeply disturbed by the stabbing which, according to doctors, could have killed him had the cut been half-an-inch deeper.

Mr Mughal said: "He Mr Harman is a bit scared. He can't talk because of the pain."

Police sealed off the bottom of Bridge Street while they investigated the scene. Forensic experts took samples from the blood trail left from Mr Harman's wound.

Mr Harman, who runs the Costcutter along with his brother, Abethanm Mahin- tharajah, had only been working at weekends and was attacked shortly after opening.

Mr Mahintharajah, 32, said: "I've worked here for two years now and it has happened before as well when aggressive people come in. You try to get them banned but there is no support."

The entire incident was recorded by the store's CCTV cameras, a copy of which has been passed to police.

The man was described as light skinned, of mixed race, 6ft to 6ft 5in, stocky, and wearing a beige woolly hat, a navy sweater and dark tracksuit bottoms.

Anyone with information can call Detective Constable Darren Jones, at Amersham Police on 08458 505505. If you do not wish to speak to police, or want to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111