A brave woman knocked a thief off his bike before rugby tackling him and retrieving a charity box he had swiped.

Jazmine Fletcher was walking past Yates Greer butchers, on Union Street in Leigh, when she heard a shopkeeper screaming.

She said she saw a man coming out of the shop on a bike, carrying two charity boxes taken from inside, at around 2.15pm on Thursday (March 8).

The thief rode towards Jazmine, but she stood in his way and refused to move.

As the man approached her, she knocked him off the bike and tackled him.

The thief managed to run off with one of the charity boxes, but Jazmine held onto his bike and was able to grab the other box he had stolen.

Her mum Elaine works at the shop and was collecting money for two charities - the SSAFA Armed Forces Charity and the Kids Cancer Charity.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

Jazmine, a support worker, managed to retrieve the box for children with cancer.

She said the two charities are important to her family as her brother was in the army, while her cousin died of cancer when she was 18.

Jazmine, 24, told the M.E.N: “A man came out and jumped on his bike, he had two charity boxes. He was coming towards me on his bike and thought I would move out of the way.

“He then realised I wasn’t going to. I bounced him off and tackled him to the floor.

“I think it was just instinct.

“I am not trained in self-defence, I have never done anything like that before. I surprised myself.”

Jazmine was left with cuts on her leg and hands, but wasn’t seriously hurt.

After sharing details of the incident on Facebook, she was praised by hundreds of people.

Some dubbed her an ‘International Women’s Day hero’.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

It is understood there have been reports of several charity box thefts from other businesses in the area in recent weeks.

Police have launched an investigation.

A GMP spokesman said: “We were called just before 2.15pm on Thursday to Union Street in Leigh.

“It was reported a man has made off with charity boxes. A passer-by stopped a man and knocked him off his bike.

“He has run off and taken one of the boxes with him.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting reference number 1097 of March 8.

Reports can also be made to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.