A GOOD Samaritan who chased a bag snatcher in Pershore came forward to give useful information to police after seeing an appeal for witnesses in the Journal.

Self-employed builder Stuart Badham pursued the thief, who had targeted an elderly woman on her way to cast her vote in the recent Wychavon District Council elections.

Mr Badham, aged 43, of Knowle Hill, Evesham, was working for constructors McLellans on an extension at Abbey Park First School when he saw a youth grab the woman's handbag.

"I just went round from where we were doing the extension and that was when he grabbed the bag," said Mr Badham.

"The kid crouched behind the woman and grabbed her bag, so I chased him. He jumped over a fence but I managed to grab the bag back.

"I took it back to the elderly lady and off she went to the polling station and voted.

"This is the first time I've ever done anything like this. I think anybody would do it, wouldn't they? It could have been your own mum having her bag pinched."

He added: "On the Thursday, the Journal came out and said the police wanted to interview anybody with information. I phoned them up."

The incident happened at around 1.55pm on Thursday, May 1. The thief was wearing a grey, hooded top.

After his good deed, Mr Badham went back to work.

Anyone else with information about the incident can contact PC Bernie Thomas on 08457 444888.