A delivery driver was attacked as crooks targeted a van dropping off Christmas presents in Liverpool.
The victim was making a delivery in West Derby when he was assaulted and his vehicle stolen.
Police tracked the van to countryside near Wigan, where two men were arrested after a chase across fields.
The driver had stopped in Hampton Court Road on Tuesday morning when he was attacked as he left his Renault Trafic van.
He suffered injuries to his head and face.
The vehicle was driven away "at speed" - but officers from Merseyside Police's roads police unit (RPU) tracked the van to Ashton-in-Makerfield, 22 miles from the scene of the robbery.
Two men seen running across a field were chased, caught and arrested by police.
On Twitter, the roads police unit described the chase as "a very muddy foot pursuit", adding: "During the foot pursuit the officers ended up waist deep in an unexpectedly deep muddy, smelly pit but carried on the chase."
Two men, aged 24 and 28 and both from Greater Manchester, were charged with robbery.
The ECHO understands the parcels were being delivered on behalf of a major retail website.
They were recovered by police.
*Anyone with information on suspected robbery is asked to call 999 if a crime is in progress. They can also pass information via Twitter (@MerPolCC) or by calling 101, or via the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
