A woman with strong local connections has been hailed a heroine after helping stop a fugitive in his tracks.

Avril James, who hails from Pisgah, but now lives in Worcester, was one of three women who dramatically intervened after seeing police chasing a man across Worcester Bridge.

Monitored by the city's new CCTV equipment, uniformed and plain clothes officers had been chasing the man for some six minutes when heroine one barred his way on the pavement, as he sprinted onto the bridge, forcing him to run into the road.

Heroine two (Avril) then ran into the road, hit him with her bag and tussled with him, slowing him down and making him change direction again. Heroine three then ran into the road and challenged him as Avril followed up from behind, jointly forcing him away from his intended course. The frustrated man then ran across both lanes and was caught and held by a van driver on the opposite side of the bridge.

"I was walking across the bridge into the city when I saw police officers running after a man," explained 58-year-old Avril this week.

"I remember thinking something iffy is going on here, and with that, another woman in front of me tried to stop the man, but failed," she continued. "I then ran across the bridge and was supposed to have hit the man with my bag, but I can't remember doing that exactly. It was my Observer bag as well.

"A third woman also tried to challenge the man, while a van driver stopped and managed to grab him and held him up against the wall. The van driver told me to hold the man's arm behind his back which I did until the police arrived."

Avril said she had not thought twice about her actions and put them down to instinct, as well as working as a store detective at Somerfield, Tenby, for a number of years.

Avril, who is also remembered for working at T.P. Hughes, was later dubbed 'Have-a-go Avril' by her colleagues at Ogle's Pharmacy where she now works.

The fugitive had been wanted on a warrant issued by Cheltenham Magistrates Court on September 8 in connection with possessing an offensive weapon and assaulting three police officers.

Said a spokesman for West Mercia Police: "The three women did not know each other and were walking over the bridge some distance apart when they each realised, in the space of a few seconds, that a man was being pursued and was heading straight for them along the pavement.

"They had very little time to make up their minds what to do and react. Almost acting in unison, they each responded in exactly the same way - they tried to apprehend the man, not knowing whether he was armed or could have injured them.

"Although we have concerns for the consequences of their actions, we fully endorse them and applaud their courage."

The incident has attracted worldwide media coverage, with Avril being amazed at how much exposure she had received.

"I cannot believe it," added Avril, whose fellow heroines are yet to be traced by officers who want to thank them for their courageous efforts.