POLICE are hunting this thief who stole more than £100 in cash from a handbag in a Hampshire pub.

Officers have released images of the thief caught on CCTV snatching the bag from the Avondale Pub, in Carlton Crescent, Southampton.

The victim only discovered she had lost the money when she went to leave the pub and picked up her bag, but she initially believed she had simply lost it.

But staff at the pub checked CCTV and spotted that a man had moved the woman’s coat off her bag whilst it was briefly unattended and swiped £115 out of her purse.

Anyone with information about the theft, which happened on May 4, should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.