A have-a-go-hero who attempted to foil a theft has been landed with a £1,000 bill to repair his damaged car.

Matthew Wilcox was at the Tesco Express in Great Melton Road, Hethersett, at about 8.30pm on Monday when a man loading his basket with deodorant cans caught his attention.

The 41-year-old said: 'My wife and I noticed this man buying lots of cans of deodorant and we were laughing about it.

'When we got back in the car we saw him walk to the door and the buzzers went off – he got in a car with a woman and tried to get away.'

But Mr Wilcox, who lives in Hethersett, reversed his car to block the exit. 'They came flying towards my car and signalled for me to move, but I wouldn't – I thought 'no, you've stolen something',' he said.

In desperation, the female driver ploughed straight into Mr Wilcox's convertible Volkswagen – before reversing and striking it again.

The couple then managed to squeeze through a gap and fled down Great Melton Road, leaving their basket of goods behind.

Now, the caravan salesman has been left to deal with the £1,000 bill for a smashed wing mirror, passenger door and bumper. '

Police told me that there's not really a lot I can do. I was fuming – I have ended up the real victim here and I was trying to do the right thing,' said Mr Wilcox.

'Him bumping my car is pretty serious to me – it could have been dangerous. Hopefully he will be caught.'

A spokesperson for the police said: 'Norfolk Constabulary would commend the actions of anyone who acted in such a selfless way, however, we would urge any members of the public who come across a crime in progress to always contact the emergency services rather than putting themselves or other people in danger.'

If you saw what happened or have any information on the whereabouts of the vehicle, contact police on 101.

Do you have a Hethersett story for us? Contact reporter Lauren Cope on Lauren.cope@archant.co.uk