A HAVE-A-GO hero who two years ago pulled a man to safety as he jumped off a building has again come to the rescue.

This time, Worcester City Council worker Peter Shaw caught a man in a different sense after an elderly lady was robbed as she withdrew money from a cashpoint machine.

The 31-year-old, who is 6ft 5in tall, had been looking at wedding rings in Worcester's High Street when he heard the screams of two pensioners outside the Nationwide building society.

He said: "I turned around to see this chap push one of the women and grab the cash in her hand.

"Instinct just kicked in and I ran after him. I caught him within seconds, by the Greggs sandwich shop, and rugby-tackled him. At that point 30 or 40 people had gathered around and one called the police and he was arrested.

"The woman was so relieved, she gave me a big hug. Her companion just kept hitting the man with her handbag. Both were crying and needed to go for a coffee afterwards."

In 2004 Mr Shaw, who works as a sports development officer with the city council, was commended by Hereford Police after he grabbed hold of a man who threw himself off a building. He had spent four hours being a mediator between the jumper and police.

He added: "Again, it was just a reaction. I grabbed his arm and the police helped me to lift him up. People asked if I regret either incident as I put myself in danger, but that's who I am, it's in my nature. I'm now looking forward to a quiet summer and getting married in August.

"If something else does happen, though, I would be more than willing to help out." Mr Shaw's heroic actions come as the Worcester News revealed that there has been a spate of handbag snatches in the city centre.

Friday's front page revealed how thieves are finding rich pickings in the city.

We highlighted the plight of 70-year-old grandmother Rosemary Challis, whose purse containing £130 and the only photo of her late husband, was stolen while she was in the Save The Children shop in Pump Street at 11am last Tuesday.

Police have warned shoppers to be on their guard.

Anyone with any information on either of these thefts is asked to call 08457 444888.