Boxer Chris Eubank gave chase to a suspected shoplifter in his jeep after a store detective thumbed a lift.

The former WBO champion, who lives in Hove, stopped to help after Miss Selfridge security guard Jake Webster spotted the man running from Next, in Churchill Square, Brighton, with two large bags of clothes.

He alerted a Top Shop store detective, who thumbed a lift from the boxer in Western Road.

The store detective said: "I spotted Jake chasing after these two men, one of them well known to us.

"I decided to go a different way to Jake and saw Chris Eubank in his jeep, waiting in traffic.

"I showed him my radio and asked to have a ride in his car. He told me to hop in."

Mr Webster, 23, from Hollingdean, said he saw the suspect leave the shopping centre's West Moor entrance.

He said: "I knew the bloke and gave chase down Western Road and I radioed for support."

The store detective joined in the chase.

Mr Webster said: "He spotted Chris going down the road towards Hove Way and flagged him down.

"By the time they both arrived, I had caught up with the man."

The two security guards managed to recover £150-worth of baby clothes, thanks to the ex-champ's help.

Chris said: "I was going down Western Road when someone flagged me down. I stopped and he said he was a security guard and was in hot pursuit of a shoplifter.

"It was a bit cheeky of him, as he got in the truck and said 'Make it snappy.' But if anyone needs help, I'm not one to say no."