A DOORMAN today told how he overpowered a gunman who had burst into a pub and pinned a pregnant barmaid against the bar.

Joseph O'Keeffe , 20, was hit over the head with the weapon but still managed to hold Kevin Hamil down until the police arrived.

Linda Fox, landlady of Blackburn town centre's Jubilee pub, and her daughter, pregnant barmaid Nicola King, paid tribute to Joseph's bravery and spoke of their terror at the incident.

Hamil, 24, of Sherwood Road, Blackburn, was jailed for 18 months at Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to stealing a £6 bottle of brandy and possessing an imitation firearm.

The court heard that depressed Hamil was carrying the 8mm blank-firing gun in the hope police would shoot him because he did not have the courage to kill himself.

Before visiting the pub, Hamil had twice tried to lure armed police out by dialling 999 and saying he had seen a man with a gun.

He entered the pub on the spur of the moment at 4am on November 24 after seeing the lights were on.

The pub was closed that evening but members of staff were inside the premises. Hamil was spotted by Nicola, 31, of Downham Street, Blackburn, who was five months pregnant at the time.

She said after the case: "I saw him pick up the brandy so I shouted for Joe. Then we saw he had the bottle in one hand and the gun in another.

"Joe and the man started grappling and I was trying to phone the police, but he came and pushed me, stomach first, against the bar. Then he and Joe started fighting again." Joseph, of Langham Street, Blackburn, said: "He hit me over the head with the gun. I had had a few drinks, so the panic goes out of the window.

"We were fighting and I threw him against the floor. He had split my head open, but I held him down until the police arrived.

"He was talking to me and saying he had rung the police reporting that someone had a gun.

"He said he came to town to get shot, but he didn't have the guts so he got drunk first.

"The adrenaline was going so I wouldn't even know what he looked like now. For a few weeks afterwards I was worried there may be some come back, but I am okay now." Nicola, who is due her have her baby in four weeks, added: "I thought it was a real gun and I was terrified. We had to wait for a hospital appointment for two days before we knew everything was alright with the baby."

Linda added: "Joe was very brave. It could have been much worse. I couldn't believe it had happened.

"You read about things like this in the paper, but don't think they will happen in your pub. Thankfully, Joe, Nicola and the baby are all alright."

The weapon was found on the floor behind the bar. A magazine was on the floor, but there were no rounds in it.

Police told the court that it was only after close examination that they discovered it was a replica.

Miss Judith McCullough, defending, said Hamil's life had been marred by bouts of depression and several attempts to commit suicide.

She added: "He had gone out with the sole intention of getting himself shot. He didn't have the courage to commit suicide himself and therefore he set about doing it in a way which he thought would lead ultimately to his death."

She said his parents, who were at court, had been worried sick by what had happened.