A man has put himself in the frame by being caught on film allegedly stealing the very security cameras which filmed him.

The man was captured on video as he spent four painstaking hours apparently unscrewing four CCTV cameras from the walls of the former Listers Arms pub in Manchester Road in the early hours.

He can be seen on the footage relayed to a computer furtively looking around to make sure the coast is clear before dropping the cameras into a black binliner he whips from a pocket – clearly not realising his every move is being filmed.

The man was first caught on camera at about 4am on Sunday breaking into the building. After apparently looking round inside, he emerges on to a fire exit and jumps on the roof of an extension, close to where the security cameras are positioned.

A 22-year-old man was arrested by police on Wednesday in connection with the theft of security cameras from the walls of the former Lister Arms.