Theft bid foiled by MP Daniel

Shropshire MP Daniel Kawczynski has been branded a hero after he collared a couple of thieves stealing shirts from a London shop.The Tory MP was waiting to be served in the TM Lewin shop about half a mile from the Houses of Parliament last night when he noticed the thieves stuffing shirts into a Harrods bag.

He then used his long legs (he's 6ft 8.5ins) to give chase, running several hundred yards in pursuit of the shoplifters and forcing them to dump their booty in a pub.

"They escaped through the rear entrance and I lost them, but at least they dumped the bag and I managed to save the shirts," said Mr Kawczynski.

"There were about 10 shirts in the bag, so it would have added up to quite a lot," he added.

The thieves chose the wrong time to go on their shoplifting expedition because the Shrewsbury & Atcham MP ran the London Marathon last year and keeps himself fit. Nevertheless, he added: "Not bad for a 36-year-old against a couple of teenagers."

Shop manager Annette Muhammad said: "He chased them for quite a long distance. I think he's a hero - not many people would do that. He took it upon himself to go off in pursuit and just kept running.

"We are really pleased. I think we'll have to offer him a discount on his shirts," she added.

TM Lewin shirts are highly sought after by business executives and other high-fliers, and the ever-smart Mr Kawczynski said he had gone to the shop near Victoria Station because there was a very good four-for-£100 offer on.

The MP didn't get any extra discount last night, but he said today: "They did thank me. They took my address and said they would be writing to me."

By John Hipwood