A HAVE-A-GO hero is lucky to be alive after trying to stop a suspected thief who drove off, dragging him along the road behind him.

The drama unfolded after the man had parked his truck at the shops on Northwich Road, Weaverham, on Friday afternoon.

He was in the cab when he spotted two men in the rear-view mirror attempting to steal garden equipment he was carrying.

When he challenged them, one of them ran off past the shops and the other got into what police describe as either a blue or grey Proton car parked nearby.

The truck driver dashed over to the car and leaned through the front passenger window in a bid to stop him getting away, but the man drove off with him still clinging to the vehicle.

The car drove along Northwich Road until it crashed into a Peugeot 206 also travelling along the road.

The offender then got out of the vehicle and ran off. The truck driver, who suffered ligament damage to his legs, was given first aid by firefighters and paramedics before being taken to hospital for treatment.

A woman in the Peugeot needed treatment for whiplash.

Sgt James Rowe, of Northwich police, said: 'They need to be caught and brought to justice. The truck driver could have been very seriously injured - or worse.'

* Police are appealing for witnesses to call 0845 4586392.