A garage cashier grappled with a suspected thief who tried to drive away without paying for petrol.

Kris King wrenched open the car door and wrestled with the man, who punched him repeatedly in the chest.

Mr King wedged his leg inside the car and tried to grab the keys as he dodged the blows.

The incident, which took place yesterday afternoon on the forecourt of the Shell garage in South Road, Brighton, marked Mr King's 11th attempt to halt a thief in his two-year career as a garage cashier. It is the fifth time he has physically tackled a driver making off with petrol without paying.

He said: "I am determined not to let them get away with it.

"We aren't encouraged to do this but I can't just let it go. I'm not going to let that kind of thing happen on my shift."

Mr King, 28, of Preston Park, Brighton, has worked at the Shell garage for just over a year. He was able to stop the driver from escaping, with the help of a passing police officer.

Fellow cashier Andy Gardener flagged down a police car as Mr King struggled with the thief.

A man and a woman have been arrested.