TWO milkmen thwarted a burglary after catching a group of men red-handed while breaking into a house in the early hours.

Patrick Finn and Darren Ferris, of Risley-based McQueens Dairies, spotted the gang attempting to climb into a property in Altrincham through the window during their morning delivery rounds.

The pair came across the break-in on Peveril Road at around 1.30am on Friday, January 18.

When they shouted at the burglars, the group fled the scene before Darren phoned the police.

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He said: "It was a real eye-opener that these type of people are out there, and it’s just a shame we can’t stop all the burglaries."

Patrick added: "It was just instinct to react, and I’m just so relieved that the poor people didn’t get broken into or lose anything."

The pair have been hailed as heroes back at the firm’s Taylor Business Park depot.

McQueens Dairies director Jamie McQueen said: "I'm really proud of Patrick and Darren's actions – they are an asset to the company."