Incredible moment alleged cashpoint thief is tackled to the ground by have-a-go hero

These dramatic pictures show a runaway theft suspect being wrestled to the ground and detained by members of the public as he attempted to flee a cashpoint hold up.

The man, 43, was brought to the floor by a flying rugby tackle before being pinned to the ground after a woman claimed £170 had been taken from her as she queued up at an ATM outside a Tesco store.

Bystanders chased the man down the street then held onto him until police arrived at the scene in Manchester's bustling Market Street as stunned shoppers and commuters on their lunch-breaks looked on.

Officers later confirmed a suspect was being questioned on suspicion of theft. The unnamed woman is believed to have had her stolen cash returned.

One onlooker said: "I was just walking down the street when all hell suddenly broke loose. One guy was running full pelt whilst others were running behind him shouting 'stop, thief'.

"He was then rugby tackled to the ground and pinned down. Some onlookers were going on about the guy's human rights and calling for him to be let go but I'm guessing they didn't know what was going in the run to it.

"The guy put up quite a struggle but he was no match for the others who grabbed him. It was like a scene from an old fashioned TV 1970s cop show.

"I'm guessing with all this stuff about Wild West Britain and shortages of police officers, it's inevitable these spectacular citizen's arrests are going to become more commonplace."

Greater Manchester Police said in a statement: "Shortly before 1.30pm today police were called to reports of a theft on Market Street in the city centre.

"A man had taken money from a woman withdrawing cash and was then detained by members of the public.

"A 43-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of theft from the person of another and remains in custody for questioning.

"Enquiries into the full circumstances around this incident are ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact police."