TWO masked thieves stole a single pint of milk from a delivery man before fleeing through the streets of York in a stolen car.

The bizarre incident began early yesterday morning in the village of Stockton-on-the-Forest, and ended with the arrest of two teenagers, after one of the fugitives climbed scaffolding near York Minster to evade the police.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: “At about 4.10am yesterday a local man was delivering milk on Stockton Lane, Stockton-on-the-Forest, when a red Vauxhall Corsa approached his milk float at speed and mounted the kerb.

“The occupants, who were wearing balaclavas to disguise their faces, got out of the vehicle and took a bottle of milk before making off towards the city centre.”

The car was spotted a short time later by police officers in Melrosegate. The driver then careered the wrong way round a mini-roundabout before abandoning the vehicle in nearby Bull Lane.

The police spokesman said: “They then made off on foot and were spotted by officers running along Foss Islands Road.

“At about 4.40am, an 18-year-old man from York was detained in Margaret Street and arrested in connection with the incident.

“The other offender, a 17-year-old male from the York area, was located in the Minster gardens at around 5.20am.”

Desperate to evade capture, however, the youth had climbed on to scaffolding, where he stayed for 15 minutes before coming down to face the police.

He was also arrested in connection with the stolen milk.

Both teenagers have since been released on police bail as inquiries into the incident continue.