THE vicar of Bolton chased after two thieves when they stole the cash takings of an orchestra performance at his church.

Rev Michael Williams pursued the pair for more than a mile before losing them on Bromwich Street in The Haulgh.

They had taken more than £500 worth of ticket sales from the Bolton Chamber Orchestra's Jubilee Concert.

As the vicar gave chase, kind-hearted members of the 200-strong audience at Bolton Parish Church handed over donations in a bid to make up the shortfall for the cash-strapped band.

Mr Williams today: "I wasn't scared. I just wanted to get the money back."

The cash had been snatched from near the feet of orchestra secretary Roger Whitehouse who was sitting at the back of the church.

The two thieves had earlier asked to be allowed into the church for free, claiming to have no money, and charitable Mr Whitehouse told them they could sit at the back. But shortly after the concert had started, the pair grabbed the bag and ran. Mr Williams and Mr Whitehouse gave chase as the thieves dashed around the side of the church and over an iron railing. But an 8ft drop on the other side deterred the chasing pair from following them over.

Mr Williams then worked out the direction they were heading and drove after them. They had run down Church Bank, under the subway below St Peter's Way.

The vicar confronted the young men on Castle Street but they denied they had been to the Parish Church. The vicar then followed them to Bromwich Street until they entered a house via the back door.

He said: "I was angry because we had let them into the concert for free.

"We thought we were doing them a favour but our kindness had set the whole thing up in a way. At the time, we felt we couldn't deny people entry."

The church's procedures for handling events are now being tightened up.

Mr Whitehouse said: "I certainly won't sit at the back with money on me again. An orchestra like ours cannot afford to lose money."

Despite already having paid £5 each, a quick collection by the concert audiencemusic fans managed to raise much of the £500 lost. Mr Whitehouse said: "I was personally very touched by such a demonstration of support and encouragement."

Police are currently investigating the incident and have asked for witnesses.

Officers are studying CCTV footage in a bid to track down the men.

One of the thieves is described as slim, with close cropped hair. The other man is heavily built with dark, long curly hair.

The bag was later recovered and handed to the vicarage but the money was not inside.