SUPERMARKET manager Chris Baker gave chase after a thief snatched a bundle of notes from one of his tills on Tuesday afternoon.

Shoppers watched in amazement as Mr Baker and several customers ran from the Somerfield store and chased after the thief.

The thief, who took nearly £80, sprinted along the High Street and up Kingsbury Street into Silverless Street where the pursuers lost him.

At 4.27pm the man was seen picking up a 40p packet of chewing gum. He offered a 50p coin but when the cashier opened her till, he grabbed the notes.

The quick thinking cashier, however, was able to hold on to his hand and grab back some of the cash.

PC Ivor Noyce of Marlborough police praised the assistant for recovering some of the cash, and delaying the man's escape.

Mr Baker, who only recently joined the store as manager, was not available to comment yesterday.

As the thief dashed along the High Street the builders working on the town hall were alerted by someone shouting: "Stop that man."

One of the builders said: "He was a big tall guy and he was really going and no-one was going to keep up with him.

"By the time I heard someone shout and realised what was happening he was up the hill and gone."

The thief was described as white, in his earlier 20s and between 6ft2ins and 6ft4ins tall. He was wearing a whitish/tawny beanie hat that had a thin blue band around it about half an inch above the brim; a light blue zip-up top with jeans and white trainers.

PC Noyce would like to hear from anyone who saw the man in the store, during the pursuit along the High Street, or if they saw a man of that description getting into a vehicle in the area of The Green or St Martins shortly after 4.40pm.

He can be contacted at Marlborough police station on (01672) 512311.