A 64-year-old have-a-go hero chased robbers who attacked a security guard with a pickaxe.

Samuel Curzon went after the gang as he "... just couldn't stand by and watch it happen." He was with his wife at Safeway in Otley when he saw the guard beaten with a pickaxe handle.

Mr Curzon chased the men as they fled in a stolen car, pulling one man over and holding onto the car door. "The security man was lying on the floor screaming and shouting for help. I just thought that could be me or one of my family, and that I must help him," said Mr Curzon.

Police are this week still hunting the gang, who struck at around 10am last Thursday.

Mr Curzon, of Otley, was standing near the security van as it waited for the guard to return from the store. He said: "The men jumped out of a car screaming and knocked the security man down. There were a lot of people around, but no-one seemed to want to get involved."

The car, a stolen Toyota Carina, was abandoned in Station Road and set on fire. The robbers swapped it for a stolen Vauxhall Astra and drove to East Keswick and set it on fire.

The security guard was taken to Leeds General Infirmary and was later released.

Anyone with information is asked to ring police on (0113) 2413459.