'Hutch' still fighting crime

Starsky and Hutch star David Soul leapt into action when a girl snatched his agent's mobile phone from a table at a bar in Soho.

Soul, the veteran of many high-speed TV pursuits, gave chase with Matt Turner, who runs celebrity chef Aldo Zilli's bar. Mr Turner said: "As we were running I thought, 'Here I am chasing after a robber with Hutch'. It was surreal."

But time has caught up with the 60-year-old former crimefighter. Minutes later he and Mr Turner, 38, returned empty-hand and breathless. Mr Turner told The Sun: "David leapt up and sprinted out with me close behind.

"Sadly the girl was too quick and gave us the slip. We're getting on a bit, I suppose."

Police said the phone was taken by one of two girls aged 15 to 16 who were posing as beggars.