POLICE intercepted a Stagecoach bus as it entered Cirencester and arrested a man from the town who was on board on suspicion of shoplifting in front of shocked passengers.

Officers in a patrol car were waiting for the 51 bus from Cheltenham to Cirencester as it entered the town around 1pm yesterday, boarded it and then arrested Ben Savory, 21.

It is alleged that Mr Savory, of Stepstairs Lane, went into 99 Stores in Bridge Road Cirencester on Tuesday, concealed items in his clothing and then left without paying.

Pensioner, Robin Burgess, of North Cerney, who was on the bus with his 7-year-old grandson James, said he was shocked by the incident.

Mr Burgess, 68, said: “As we came back in we saw a police car on the opposite side of the road and the police stopped the bus.”

Chris Jackson, a spokesman for Gloucestershire Police said that officers were tipped off that Mr Savory would be on the bus.

Mr Savory will face the shoplifting charge at Cheltenham Magistrates Court on September 11.