A man has been charged in connection with the alleged theft of five bottles of vodka from a shop in Weymouth town centre.

Officers from Weymouth and Portland Police were called to the town centre this afternoon after receiving a report that alcohol had been stolen from a shop and the suspect had cycled off. 

The police managed to catch up with the suspect with the assistance of the town cameras, but he had to be chased up Chapelhay Steps.

Officers managed to stop him for a search and recovered five bottles of vodka, as well as a pair of snips.

A man was subsequently arrested on suspicion of theft and going equipped to steal. 

The bottles were returned to the shop and the man was charged and bailed to court. 

A spokesperson for Weymouth and Portland Police said: "Earlier this afternoon a man was reported to have stolen alcohol from one of the town centre stores and cycled off.

"The town cameras followed the man while we caught up with him, and after a short run up Chapelhay Steps the man was removed from his bike for a search."