Students turned have-a-go heroes and helped catch a thief making off with cash meant for a children's charity.

The sixth formers from Monmouth Comprehensive School were on a break when they spotted a man walking up Monnow Street with a pink elephant collection box from outside Little Specials on 29th November.

"He had put a yellow bag over it and at first we thought he was just taking it to the bank," said Libby Roberts.

"But we saw him walk back down very soon after without the elephant and we started to think it was a bit fishy."

Libby, Phoebe Sutton and Jennifer Coton went into the shop while Rob Cornock and Joanna Green followed the man as he made his way back up Monnow Street.

"We said 'has this guy just nicked your elephant?' and the people in the shop said they had seen someone looking through the window at them," said Phoebe.

"Me and Jo went to see where the guy was going and a customer from the shop came with us. She went to the police station to let them know and we followed him up into the square," said Rob. "Then the police came down and arrested him."

As Rob and Jo relayed messages between shop staff and police, Phoebe, Libby and Jennifer found the elephant, which collects money for the NSPCC, and its broken trunk in Nailers Lane.

"It is just awful to take a charity box," said Libby.

"There was only about £10 in it so he could have only got away with about £4," Phoebe added.

Shop staff said the elephant collection box had been with them a long time and they were glad to have it back, adding that the students had been "brilliant".

Gwent Police confirmed a 22-year-old local man was arrested in connection with the incident. He has since been charged with theft.