There were dramatic scenes in Ormskirk town centre yesterday morning as a charity box thief was chased and arrested on the Two Saints retail park.

The man - who is believed to have ‘sussed out’ his targets on Tuesday - was found hiding behind the Mobility Workshop offices after he stole a box from Starbucks and a bucket of cash from Argos being collected for MacMillan Cancer.

Two staff members from the store raced after him, joined by two builders who were working next door on the McDonalds refurbishment.

Said one assistant in Argos: "He initially came in and was hanging around, telling us he was waiting for his mum. He said after his arrest that he was ‘down’ because he has cancer. It’s all pathetic."

Police officers weer seen questioning the manager at the YMCA shop on Aughton St. where he is believed to have visited, too.

A police PR officer told QLocal's Roger Blaxall yesterday lunchtime: "A 28-year- old man from Liverpool was arrested and taken to Skelmersdale police station for questioning regarding the theft of a number of charity boxes from shops in Ormskirk this morning."