From the Leicester Mercury:

The peace of a summer evening's cricket match was shattered as the two teams chased alleged thieves across the pitch.

The boys' match had to be interrupted when the wicketkeeper, out in the middle of the pitch, noticed people in the changing rooms.

As the intruders tried to flee across the field, allegedly with hundreds of pounds worth of goods, the boys rugby-tackled them and pinned them down until police arrived.

The match, an under-17s game between Leicester City and Dunton Bassett, resumed after the suspects were taken away by police.

Many of the boys attend Lancaster School, in Knighton, Leicester, where they received a hero's welcome yesterday morning.

The drama unfolded at the Leicester Electricity Sports and Social Club grounds, off Aylestone Road, Leicester, on Wednesday evening.

Wicketkeeper Mathew, 15, said: "I was out in the middle getting ready for the next ball when I suddenly saw two lads through the window of the changing rooms with their heads bobbing up and down as they were going through people's stuff.

"I shouted, 'There's a guy stealing our stuff' and everyone ran over, but as soon as they saw that we'd seen them they tried to escape.

"We all chased them, grabbed them or rugby tackled them and held them to the ground."

Fellow player Vivek, 15, who was fielding at the time, also helped tackle the intruders.

He said: "They'd been going through our bags but as soon as they tried to run off, we mobbed them and pinned them down even though they were trying to struggle.

"We got them to empty their pockets and there were at least 10 wallets and 10 phones including some really expensive iPhones. There was probably at least a grand there."

Mathew said: "A few people rang the police and about 10 minutes later about six police cars turned up and some police with taser guns.

"Then the match restarted."

The incident was a far cry from the usual decorum of a cricket match at a ground where legends WG Grace and Don Bradman once played.

Simon Aldis, a teacher at Lancaster School, said: "I arrived halfway through the match, expecting to watch a nice game of cricket.

" I couldn't believe it. There were two guys pinned to the floor with at least four lads between them grabbing their arms and legs.

"They should be proud of what they did. Not all the property was theirs – a lot belonged to the opposition team – but they didn't turn a blind eye, they did the right thing."

Another player, Tom, 15, said they had all acted on instinct.

He said: "It wasn't until afterwards that you think of the possible consequences. Adrenaline takes over and you just want to stop them.

"I can't believe how stupid they were to think they could have got away with it while we were playing."

Police said two men, aged 20 and 23, had been charged with burglary.

The Leicester Mercury agreed not to reveal the boys' surnames at their request.