THIS is the moment a dangerous fugitive who had outrun a team of 20 police officers was caught by a trio of women armed only with their handbags.

And police are nowappealing to the public to help identify the handbag heroines so they can be properly thanked for their help.

The man, wanted in connection with possessing an offensive weapon and assaulting three police officers, was being chased across a bridge in Worcester, West Midlands, when he was stopped in his tracks by the brave women.

Uniformed and plain-clothed officers had been chasing the man, who they had been trying to trace for three months, through the town for six minutes but were unable to catch him.

But these three plucky women were on hand to save the day.

Caught on CCTV, these pictures showhow the first woman bravely blocked the fugitive on the pavement, forcing him to run into the road, while the second hit him with her handbag.

The third woman then joined the others and forced him to change direction.

The man ran across the bridge and was finally caught by a van driver, who held him until police arrived moments later.

A police spokesman said: "The three women did not knoweach other and were walking over the bridge some distance apart when they each realised, in the space of a few seconds, that a man was being pursued and was heading straight for them along the pavement.

"They had very little time to make up
embroidered patches their minds what to do and react. Almost acting in unison, they each responded in exactly the same way - they tried to apprehend the man, not knowing whether he was armed or could have injured them.

"Although we have concerns for the consequences of their actions, we fully endorse them and applaud their courage."