Two police officers are to be commended by the chief constable following the arrest and conviction of two burglars in Yeovil.

PCs Phillip Coleman and Scott Chadwick were off duty and travelling home separately after a night shift when the former spotted two men acting suspiciously near Forest Hill.

A closer examination revealed the men were carrying bags of coins.

PC Coleman challenged the men and managed to restrain one suspect while the other ran off.

PC Chadwick, who had spotted that something was going on, arrived and searched for the other suspect after making sure his colleague was in control of the other man.

When PC Chadwick went away, the man being restrained made repeated attempts to break free.

But his attempts were to no avail as PC Coleman radioed for uniformed officers, who arrived quickly at the scene and took the man to Yeovil Police Station.

The search for the second suspect was unsuccessful, but forensic officers found vital evidence at The Old Barn Club where the men had broken in, which led to his arrest later that day.

Around £650 in coins were recovered and the men have since been jailed for a year each.

Inspector Trevor Ashford said: "This was an excellent arrest by off-duty officers.

"PC Coleman acted bravely in confronting both men and single-handedly arresting one of them, while PC Chadwick showed dedication to duty by going to the assistance of an off-duty colleague and then searching for the other man."

* Chief constable Steve Pilkington will commend the two officers at County Hall, Taunton, on Monday, December 2nd.