Police are hunting a brazen thief who stole a chainsaw from a Kingsteignton pub car park.

The ehft of the STihil 650 chainsaw from the Old Rydon Inn was captured on CCTV, footage which has been broadcast on social media.

A blue van is seen driving into the car park and pulling over to the far side. The driver gets out, picks up the chainsaw, gets back into what is thought to be a Toyota HiAce and drives off.

The chainsaw belonged to a group of workers who were carrying out emergency work on a nearby tree.

The thief was described as wearing white trousers and the incident happened about 4pm on Monday.

About half an hour earlier a man and van matching the same description was seen acting suspiciously in Bishopsteignton.

Reports say he was driving up and down a road near the primary school three or four times. The road is a dead end.

A woman reported he stopped hder and asked for a cigarette, after which he disappeared, reappearing about 5.30pm.