A lost monkey that became separated from its troop has taken to scampering through a market and stealing fruit from vendors.

The macaque raids shops and stalls causing worry among locals as they lose profits - but they also said they felt sorry for the animal in Phetchabun, Thailand.

Footage shows the monkey in one of the shops as they took a bite of the fruit displayed for sale. It ate several mangosteens before fleeing to the roof when a vendor scared it away.

Despite being told off, the monkey would be seen again the next day and feast on oranges.

Shop owner Somchai Butkhunthong said: ‘The monkey tried to eat a durian but the skin was too hard so it targeted the softer fruit instead. Its personal favourite is mangosteens.

‘I once allowed it to eat as many as it could because it looked very hungry without a troop. But it kept returning and I am losing money.'

Somchai added that other vendors warned him that it could bring other monkeys to his shop but it looked lost and alone.

He said: 'It was always alone, usually the monkeys come in pairs and return in bigger numbers. It could be a pet that escaped and didn't know where to go, or a monkey that lost its family.'