Chase through Cheltenham streets by heroes to apprehend driver

TWO heroes gave chase after a driver allegedly smashed into a car stopped at traffic lights and failed to stop.

Kenny Ives and Peter Trigg, of Ken Ives Builders, did not hesitate when they witnessed the collision in Oriel Road.

As the motorist reportedly drove off without stopping, photographer Eloisa Wildsmith was left surveying the damage to her car.

But Kenny decided to take matters into his own hands.

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The 30-year-old, who set off in pursuit, finally caught up with the driver in Tivoli, waiting with him until the police arrived.

Eloisa said the first she discovered the deeds of her knight in a shining lorry was when she arrived at the police station to report the incident.

She was told that a man had already been brought in by officers in connection with the collision.

The crash happened on Wednesday afternoon, near Cheltenham Town Hall.

Eloisa said initially she had not realised what had happened after hearing a bang against her Toyota Corolla as she pulled up to a set of red lights.

"I heard a noise and was about to get out of the car to have a look at what had happened," she said.

"There was a man in the car next to me, on the passenger side, who gave me a look and then drove off.

"I was just left standing in the road like an idiot.

"By the time I got to the police station an hour later to report it, I was told I had a knight in shining armour.

"A lorry driver who had seen what had happened drove after the man all the way to Tivoli and managed to take his car keys when he stopped." Kenny, of Hester's Way, said he went into automatic pilot when he saw the other driver drive away.

As the man stopped at another set of lights in Tivoli, he jumped out of his lorry and reached in to grab the keys from the motorist's ignition.

Instinct

He then called the police.

"Instinct just takes over, I suppose," said Kenny.

"I caught him after following him for about a mile-and-a-half.

"When he stopped, I took the keys from his ignition then left Peter holding him while I called the police." Eloisa is now waiting to hear from her insurers whether the damage is fixable.

"I can still drive it and the door still opens but it does make a noise," she said.

A Gloucestershire police spokesman said: "A 26-year-old man from Gloucester has been reported for driving without due care and attention, failing to stop at the scene of an accident and driving without insurance.

"Investigations are ongoing."

Anyone who witnessed the collision should contact 101, quoting incident 257 of September 5.