THESE pedal-pushing policemen took on two suspected street robbers in a furious cycle chase through the winding streets of Caerleon.

Bobbies on bikes PC Akbar Ali and PCSO Kristopher Jones proved that pedal power works when they arrested the two youths after a five minute chase.

PC Ali was patrolling Caerleon at around 10.30am yesterday, when he was approached by a teenager who had just been robbed.

The 17-year-old victim was on Backhall Street when he was confronted by two youths on pushbikes.

They pushed him to the ground and stole his wallet, containing £10, then cycled off.

The victim spotted PC Ali and ran over to report the robbery.

PC Ali radioed PCSO Jones and within minutes the pair had spotted two suspects on High Street and followed them to Backhall Street.

There, they challenged the youths, who immediately tried to escape on their bikes.

But the officers gave chase through Caerleon.

The first youth sped from Backhall Street, down the one-way system of High Street the wrong way, down White Hart Lane and onto Carlton Terrace. He was caught by the Hanbury Pub by PC Ali two minutes after the chase began.

PC Ali handcuffed the youth and left him with a member of the public who happened to be a former policeman, before rejoining PCSO Jones in pursuit of the second youth.

He had also cycled down High Street the wrong way, but split up from the other youth when they got to Carlton Terrace, to go back up High Street the right way, onto Museum Street and towards Myrtle Cottages.

He turned onto Backhall Street again, but one of the officers split off, cycled to the top of the road and cut him off.

The youth was arrested five minutes after the chase started.

Both suspects are being questioned by police on suspicion of robbery.

Police say the incident illustrates just why pushbikes are such a valuable tool in areas like Caerleon, where many of the streets are narrow or one-way.

PC Ali said: "Because of the speed the suspects took off at, the police bikes played a vital role.

"It's highly likely they would have got away if we were on foot or in a car because of the narrow lanes and alleyways in the village."