AN A-level student has described the moment a masked woman brandishing a "big knife" walked into the family store and demanded money.

Parmvier Khahira, 17, said he thought it was a joke at first.

The teenager then did what his parents had always told him to, and handed over the money without a struggle.

He said the woman put the money in a bag and walked out of the Premier Express store in Craigcefnparc while a shocked customer dialled 999.

Parmvier, who attends St Michael's School in Llanelli, said: "I didn't notice the woman at first. She pulled a knife out and asked me for money. It was a big knife, and she had a mask on."

The keen footballer claimed the woman pointed the weapon towards his face.

"I just gave it [the money] to her — I didn't want to get hurt," he said.

Within a couple of minutes, the area was buzzing with police activity, including armed officers and a force helicopter.

Parmvier's mum, Amarjit Kaur, who had popped out of the shop moments previously, rushed back to check her son was unhurt.

She said: "He phoned me and said, 'Mum come over — we have just been robbed'. He sounded quite frightened."

Parmvier's dad, who was at a store in Penlan, Swansea, also downed tools and dashed home.

Mrs Kaur said a similar incident happened at their Craigcefnparc shop, which is a sub post office, around ten years ago.

But she described the village generally as lovely, quiet and friendly.

"We know all the people by name," she said. "Everybody has been coming in to make sure he [Parmvier] is all right."

The incident happened at around 5pm on Saturday. The next morning Parmvier was back in the store helping his mum.

Another Premier store — in Brynmelin, Swansea — was raided by knife-wielding robbers on August 21.

Mrs Kaur said her son had done the right thing, and she was just glad he was OK.

She said: "One of our rules is, 'Don't mess with them'. It's not worth your life."

South Wales Police have confirmed that a 50-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with Saturday afternoon's incident. Yesterday evening she remained in police custody.

richard.youle@swwmedia.co.uk