Have-a-go heroes

Stunned passers-by watched amazed as the three men performed a citizens' arrest on the struggling man, holding on to him until police arrived to take him away.

It is believed that two of the men rushed to the woman's aid after seeing the man try to snatch her handbag as he cycled past her in Walmgate.

The unnamed pair yelled for help and the alarm was raised in the Evening Press offices opposite, where canvassing and direct delivery executive Andrew Mayhew ran to their assistance.

At one point Andrew summoned police with a mobile phone in one hand as he held on to the robber with the other.

"He was trying to get away and shouting and swearing, saying that he had not tried to take the woman's bag," said Andrew.

"But she told me he had tried to snatch her bag and physically tried to get it off her."

Despite the drama, Andrew, 24, said afterwards he was not frightened by his experience.

He had worked as a retail manager before and had had to deal with shoplifters, so he knew instantly what to do.

He said: "I'm glad he didn't get away - too many of them do get away with it. It's about time something good like this happened."

Andrew's boss Vickie Henderson, Evening Press head of circulation and marketing, praised his courage.

"He did a great job," she said. "He was very brave, and we're proud of him."

PC Stephen Byrne last night praised all three men for their quick-thinking actions.

He said: "All the men acted very quickly and kept hold of him, despite his attempts to get away.

"They acted very well and managed to hold him until we got there. It was good public reaction to what happened, very good public spirit."

Updated: 10:45 Saturday, May 17, 2003