ELECTRICIAN Paul Morgan-Owen was taken to hospital with shattered bones in his shoulder, a broken arm and severe bruising after tackling a pair of thieves.

But the self-employed 59-year-old, who now faces four months off work, has vowed he would do it all over again.

The father-of-one was left lying in the road after trying to stop thieves who broke into his van in Valentia Road, Headington, Oxford.

Before being discharged from the John Radcliffe Hospital yesterday, he said: "It was just a split second decision - watch someone walk away or do something about it."

Mr Morgan-Owen saw a man climbing out of his van shortly before midday and gave chase when he spotted a getaway car waiting.

He hoped to grab the keys from the driver but the only thing he can remember next is lying in the middle of the road - possibly after being clipped by the car as the thieves escaped.

He suffered a multiple fracture in the shoulder requiring a three-hour operation, broken bones in the arm and hand, severe bruising across his back and torso, grazed knees and a gashes to the head and nose.

Severe bruising to his lower lung led to pneumonia and extra time in hospital.

He said: "I don't know if he clipped me and spun me around or what. There are missing seconds and I really don't know what happened."

Until June, Mr Morgan-Owen lived in Didcot - where he was a member of the Round Table. He now runs Independent Electrical Inspection and Test Co in Gosport, Hants.

He estimates he will be off work for 16 weeks and could lose up to £10,000 in wages after last Wednesday's incident.

He added: "It was just a spontaneous reaction. I'm going to lose a fortune - but I would definitely do it again.

"In hindsight, it's probably a better deal to lose the tools than the work. But when I saw him with my kit in his hands, it's a little difficult to stand there and watch him walk off."

The thief is described as blond and about 6ft 1in tall. He was wearing a green T-shirt.

He fled with an accomplice in a grey Volvo.

They failed to steal the two drills and dropped them on the ground before they escaped.

Mr Morgan-Owen added: "They were professional guys - they knew what they were doing. They had a getaway car and had the tools needed to get in the van. It wasn't just a chance theft.

"I'd like to see them caught but the punishment for a crime like this is pretty minuscule these days."

Police are appealing for anyone with information on the two men or the getaway car to call PC Jim Abram on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.