Bizarre CCTV footage shows the moment a SNOWMAN was stolen from outside a pub.

Pub bosses are appealing after 'Sammy the Snowman' was pinched from a wall at The Potter in Stoke-on-Trent.

A group of three people were caught on camera walking past the boozer in the Longton area of the city at around 10pm on Sunday (4/1).

One of the men in a green hat jogs across the snow-covered road to swipe the snowman from its perch before making his escape.

Pub site manager Callum Chadwick said the festive figure was stolen by the mystery thief after being built by regulars at the pub.

He said: "It had been snowing pretty heavily and some of the regulars decided it would be fun to build a snowman. "

"And then at kicking out time they went outside and wondered where on earth their snowman had gone. "

"I watched back the footage and saw these three fellas walking down the street."

"One of them ran over the road, snatched it and then scarpered off up the other end of the street. "

"It's obviously not something we'll report to police or anything like that - but we just couldn't understand why someone would want to steal a snowman. "

"We have no idea who they were and I suspect we'll never find out. "

"Who is going to admit stealing a snowman from a pub? "

"It was just all very strange and it has caused quite a stir on social media since."



The pub shared the footage on Facebook and wrote: "To the snowman thief. We hope you enjoyed stealing a snowman."

"Bold move. Really. Just so you know — we've got CCTV. Yes, it works. Yes, we've watched it. Yes, we've laughed."

"He was minding his own business, spreading joy, not auditioning for Gone in 60 Seconds: Frostbite Edition."

"Return him quietly. No names. No shame. Or don't… and enjoy being forever known as "The Person Who Nicked a Snowman."

"Your move."

Amused web users responded on social media with one commenting: "He's only having an Olaf." "

Another added: "Loads of people would have gotten cold feet, he probably just took frosty for a Brrr-ito." "

And a third wrote: "They're that stupid they'll probably try and sell him on Marketplace."

Another put: "How sad do you have to be to nick a snowman of all things"

A fifth said: "Lucky he found a white one , they are normally yellow round there."