POLICE officers caught a gang of egg-throwing teenagers after a series of attacks on a butcher's shop.

PCs Pete Fennell and Richard Tottle lay in wait for the offenders at 8am yesterday morning after a complaint from Richard Iles of John Iles and Son Butchers in Causeway, Chippenham.

They knew the gang was likely to strike on their way to school. PC Tottle was sitting in the shop while PC Fennell waited nearby in a car.

Mr Iles said: "PC Tottle was sitting in the shop and lo and behold an egg came flying through the doorway."

PC Tottle chased the youngsters down the Causeway and arrested them.

Mr Iles, 54, who said he has been subjected to verbal abuse, banging on the windows and litter being thrown into his doorway for months, said: "You think things like this might not be dealt with because they are considered trivial but this was really first class."

PC Fennell said: "A lot of people have suffered from egg throwing recently and it is clearly unacceptable."

Three boys aged 13 and 14 were interviewed. "They will be dealt with accordingly," said PC Fennell.