HAVE-A-GO heroes Mark Skellern and Simon Broom have been rewarded for tackling a criminal by receiving good citizen awards from Cheshire's police chief.

Mr Skellern brought down a would-be burglar by rugby tackling him in the drama early one morning last winter.

He and Mr Broom, who live in Congleton, then held him down until the police arrived.

A second man who ran off was arrested a short time later, and both have been sent to prison after appearing in court.

Cheshire Chief Constable Nigel Burgess said the actions of Mr Skellern and Mr Broom were brave and public spirited.

"They showed presence of mind, and are both worthy of a good citizen award," he said.

The awards were presented to the men by Mr Burgess at the Cheshire Constabulary training centre in Crewe, and followed an incident in Congleton last November.

Mr Broom was in bed at home about 4.15am when he was woken by the sound of dogs barking.

He looked out of his bedroom window and saw two men looking into a parked car.

He got dressed, asked his wife to ring the police, and followed the men into a nearby road, where he saw them trying to break into a house.

They ran off after he shouted at them, and one was rugby tackled by Mr Skellern as he was on his early morning milk round.

"Mr Broom followed the men to see where they had gone, and waited at the bottom of his road," said 38-year-old Mr Skellern.

"He went up to get them after seeing them break into a house, but they did a runner.

"They ran down a street, I was at the bottom - Mr Broom shouted for me to grab one of them, which I did.

"I rugby tackled him, and Mr Broom helped me to hold him down until the police arrived.

"I didn't think about whether they might have been carrying weapons or anything like that.

"It was really just a bit of community spirit on my part, as it could have been my house they had been breaking into.

"It also shows how milkman are not just out there delivering your milk, but can also be the eyes and ears of the community."

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