A FORMER police sergeant relived her days in the force when she got involved in a dramatic chase of two yobs who tried to steal a young mother's car.

Nikky McCourt was driving through Rainham when she spotted the youths sprinting down the High Street. Moments later she saw a woman apparently pursuing the youths and trying to flag down motorists.

Nikky, 36, slammed on her brakes and shouted at the woman to get into her car. She said: "I could hear the woman shouting that lads had tried to steal her car, She was asking someone to call the police. I told her to jump in and I did a U-turn and chased after them."

As the chase unfolded, the woman told Nikky that when the pair had tried to steal the car she ran out of her house in Nursery Street and tried to stop them but they crashed the vehicle and ran off, so she gave chase.

Nikky, of Wigmore Road, said: "I started driving like I was a police officer again. The woman had been so brave running after them I was even more determined to help her catch them."

As Nikky turned into Station Road she caught up with the pair, got out of her car and shouted at them. She said: "They both stopped in their tracks and I quickly told them police officers were on their way."

A couple who had seen what was going on, helped Nikky until the police arrived to arrest the youths.

Nikky, who stood as a Liberal Democrat candidate in the local elections, added: "People in nearby shops tried to comfort the woman - her Mercedes had been her pride and joy, she said she was still paying for it. I'm glad I was able to help."

A spokesman for Medway Police said after the incident on June 3: "We are very grateful for Nikky's assistance. However, we would like to stress that members of the public must always consider their own safety first and we would always urge caution when dealing with situations like these."

One youth was later released without charge and the other was bailed pending further inquiries. Both are aged 15.