A burglar was forced to flee a village pub after being confronted by a group of bodyguards drinking inside.

The intruder was rugby-tackled as he ran away after being caught by a barmaid rifling through possessions in an upstairs bedroom.

What he soon discovered to his peril was that bodyguards visiting for a training session were staying at the Horseshoe Inn in Windmill Hill, Herstmonceux, near Hailsham.

Three of them, including instructor Dwyn Starkey, were having an evening drink in the bar as the thief crept upstairs.

The barmaid went up during her shift and became suspicious when she saw shadows in the partition linking the pub to the living area.

She found the bedroom door ajar and saw a man rummaging through her handbag.

After running downstairs to the bar shouting "Quick, I need help", Mr Starkey and colleague Chris Massey rushed to the foot of the stairs and came face-to-face with the intruder.

Mr Starkey said: "We asked him what he was doing and he said he was looking for the reception.

"We pointed out very politely that you don't find reception upstairs.

"While police were called he ran back up the stairs and outside through a fire escape.

"Meanwhile, I followed him up the stairs and Chris went to the car park.

"As he was running across the car park, I rugby-tackled him and Chris restrained him and by the time we got him back inside, the police had arrived."

Police confirmed bodyguards visiting the area for a training session managed to detain a man who was subsequently arrested on suspicion of burglary and theft.

Mr Starkey said: "It wasn't a very sensible thing to do while we were in the place."

The men were with London-based Task International Ltd, which provides a range of security training and operations including VIP security.

They train people to deal with kidnap ransom and extortion situations.

Task International Ltd comes down to Sussex each month to train at Herstmonceux Castle while staying at the Horseshoe Inn.