THE owners of a Devizes jewellery shop are planning a special present for the have-a-go hero who wrestled two trays of expensive rings from a thief who had snatched them from the shop a few moments before.

The drama took place shortly before 3pm on Saturday when a man entered HJ Johnson in Maryport Street.

He asked to see two trays of rings in the window, then wanted to look at a third one.

Shop manager Ruth Blanshard said: "My assistant handed me the first two trays to look after while she took the third out of the window. Then the man just grabbed the trays out of my hands and ran out of the shop.

"I was absolutely furious. This is the sixth robbery we have had in the last two and a half years and I just lost my temper."

Ms Blanshard barged her way past a chair, the open window partition to run after the thief.

In the street outside was a 38-year-old father of two with his family. He saw what was happening and immediately ran after the raider. He followed him to the west central car park where an accomplice was sitting at the wheel of a red L-registration Vauxhall Corsa.

The local hero, who has asked not to be named, said: "I didn't think about it. I just ran after him.

"When I got to the car the bloke was clambering into the passenger seat while the driver was revving the engine.

"I grabbed hold of the trays at the same time as the driver released the clutch and shot off. I don't know which one of us was more surprised, but I found myself holding the trays of rings and the car gone."

The Corsa mounted the pavement to manoeuvre round the Saturday afternoon traffic before driving off down Gains Lane towards the Green. Meanwhile, the rescuer took the rings back to the jewellers.

He said: "I don't want my name mentioned because those blokes are still out there and you can't tell what they might do. I have two young children and, to be honest, anyone would have done what I did if they found themselves in my position."

Ms Blanshard said: "We are incredibly grateful to him. The rings he returned to us are worth the best part of £25,000. Because of the enormous premiums we have to pay for insurance these days, we probably wouldn't have made a claim.

"I didn't honestly expect to see the rings again. My father and I cannot thank this man enough.

"We are planning a special surprise for him and his family, but we haven't decided yet what it will be."

The thief is described as of Mediterranean appearance, aged 35 to 40, 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in of stocky build, with short dark brown hair and wearing a blue blazer and trousers.

Although the trays were returned, three rings are still missing, thought to have fallen out during the struggle.

They are described as an emerald and diamond three-stone ring with an oval emerald in the middle; an emerald and diamond half-eternity ring with five emeralds and four diamonds; and a diamond solitaire.

Ms Blanshard said: "Members of the public must have picked them up and we would like them back."

The shop has suffered six raids in the last 30 months.

The worst was on a Saturday afternoon in November 2001, when a man dressed in motorcycle leathers and helmet rained blows with a hammer on the reinforced glass of the front window to steal three rings.

On that occasion, customer Adam Thomas and Richard Lake gave chase but the thief escaped.

Ms Blanshard said: "That's the thing about this town. People will unthinkingly risk their lives for other people.

"These men were willing to get involved because they saw something wrong taking place.

"I have spent my whole life building this business up, I love it and I am not going to let this kind of thing stop me carrying it on."

Det Con Marcus Tawn at Devizes police station is leading the investigation and wants to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident.

Also, if anyone picked up any of the missing rings, they can reach him on (01380) 722141.