Richmond police officers on a holiday to watch the Spanish Grand Prix rugby-tackled a suspected bag thief off a bike.

Andy Le Geyt, acting sergeant, threw himself at the alleged thief after he and his colleagues heard someone shouting for help near Placa de Sant Jaume, Barcelona, on Friday.

Sgt Le Geyt, PC Colin Swan and specials Milad Amini and Natalie Matthews were withdrawing money from a cash point when they heard a Russian tourist shouting for help.

Sgt Le Geyt told the Independent: “Obviously something had happened and someone was shouting for help.

“I jumped out into the road and saw a guy coming towards us with the victim chasing him down the road.

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The police officers were watching Lewis Hamilton, who crashed out of the Grand Prix

“I rugby-tackled him off the bike on to the floor and the other officers came and tackled the man. He was trying to bite us and spitting at us."

The British officers, all based in Richmond, asked a Spanish shopkeeper to call the local police, who took the suspect away.

Sgt Le Geyt added: “We didn't know what had happened, it could have been anything. The guy (alleged victim) was pointing to him and chasing him, I just had to react quickly enough to stop him.

"When you are a police officer it doesn't matter where you are, if you hear that word (police) you will react.

"For all of us it's the first time we've had to deal with something abroad. When it does happen it's a bit of a shock. It's our duty to protect people no matter who they are."