This is the moment a brave shopkeeper tackled a would-be thief - by hitting him over the head with a bottle of Champagne.

Manager Neil Hanby leapt into action armed with the bottle of bubbles when he found the intruder in the cellars at the Costcutter store in Boston Spa, between York and Leeds.

The incident was captured on CCTV footage and shows the gutsy shopkeeper putting up a fight as the thief tries to make a getaway.

Mr Hanby can be seen hitting the man over the head with the bottle of champagne while a customer is on the phone to the police.

The store manager then jumped on his back as he tried to make his escape and, seeing the fracas, a customer grabbed a fire extinguisher and blasted him in the face with foam.

Though he escaped in a getaway car driven by an accomplice, the would-be thief did not get away with anything and is sure to be worse for wear after the brave pair had finished with him.

Mr Hanby described the moment he ‘cornered’ the intruder: “I heard a noise in the cellars and, as I went down, I saw him there. He realised he was cornered and when he came up I warned him not to proceed but he did.

"I had a bottle of champagne in my hand and I hit him over the head with it.

"Basically we were fighting on the stairs and we went into the corridor and we ended up fighting and falling into the fridge.

"Then a customer, a great customer, grabbed hold of a fire extinguisher and blasted him in the face with foam.”

Mr Hanby said the man was ‘a big lad’ but he was not willing to let him get away.

"He realised it was time to give up and ran out of the shop onto the street,” he said.

"I chased him and jumped on his back but his accomplice dragged him away and they drove off in a car.”

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The shop in Boston Spa

Cops have described the would-be intruder as white, 30-35-years-old, 5ft 9 to 5ft 10ins tall and well-built, wearing a grey hooded top. He was also wearing blue jogging bottoms with three red stripes down the legs.

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Mr Hanby poses outside his shop

The Leeds North Outer East Neighbourhood Policing Team - part of West Yorkshire Police - would like to speak to anyone who has information about the theft which happened on Saturday May 16.

It took place at about 9.52pm after the man entered the store and attempted to steal alcohol.

He was spotted by staff who challenged him and attempted to prevent him from fleeing the store.

The man made off in a small blue car and is still being sought by cops.

Inspector Paul Dwyer of the Leeds North Outer East NPT, said: "We are investigating this incident and would like to speak to anyone who saw what happened or saw two men in a small blue car fleeing the store at just before 10pm to contact the North East Outer NPT, on 101."

Information can also be given to the Crimestoppers charity, anonymously, on 0800 555 111."

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