A POLICE chief praised a have-a-go hero who confronted a gang breaking into a Newport shop.

Inspector Dan Taylor described Christian Kenyon as "brave" after the 30-year-old stopped a raid on a Co-op store, in St John's Crescent, Rogerstone, on Saturday.

But he urged the public not to try to tackle criminals on their own and to wait for the police to arrive.

"It was a brave thing to do," he said. "And he's been a great assistance to the investigation.

"But people have got to be careful to protect their own welfare. We wouldn't recommend anyone to tackle criminals."

Local people said there were about six people in three cars involved in the attempted burglary at 1.10am.

The gang forced open the shop's shutters and smashed a window in the door, and residents say they were attempting to break into a cashpoint machine.

Mr Kenyon tried to grab one of the raiders, thought to be in their twenties.

But they jumped into their cars and started to reverse into him, forcing him to dodge out of the way, he said.

One of them struck him and he fell over, bruising his back.

The gang sped off seconds before police officers arrived on the scene.

Inspector Taylor, from Bettws neighbourhood policing team, which covers Rogerstone, said: "We certainly value the way he's observed the incident and passed that information on to officers."

If anyone has any information call Gwent Police on 01633 838111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.