PLUCKY drinkers chased off daring pub thieves and saved their local's weekly takings of around £4,000.

The raiders were then followed by police in a high speed motorway chase but the cops had to pull out for safety reasons.

The drama began at the Harpers Arms, Harpers Lane, Chorley, where regulars were finishing their drinks.

It is understood the intruders tried to smash the pub safe open by throwing it from a first-floor window after climbing onto a flat roof as the landlord finished his shift.

They sneaked into living accommodation and heaved the safe out of the window.

Landlord Brian Livesey said: "We just heard a noise, it was 11 o'clock on Sunday night. We went to investigate and they more or less tried to run off.

"They didn't get away with anything. They were disturbed."

Mr Livesey told the Citizen drinkers had chased the would-be thieves, adding: "The safe has not been opened, they dumped it in some bushes at the back of the pub.

"There was cash in the safe, it was approximately £3,000 to £4,000."

Police were on the scene in minutes, but were forced to call off a high-speed vehicle chase down the M61.

PC Richard Booth of Chorley CID explained: "The pub was closed, but people were finishing their drinks when the incident happened.

"It seems the thieves have climbed onto the roof and forced the window.

"They took the safe from the back room, but as they threw it from the window, drinkers in the pub heard what was going on and disturbed them.

"We were able to follow a silver Peugeot estate car along the M61 southbound towards Manchester, but the speeds were just too dangerous for other road users so we were forced to call it off."

Police are still investigating the incident which occurred at 11pm on Sunday, June 27.