Police are hunting thief after stealing a life sized plastic GORILLA from a man's pond

Police are hunting this suspected thief accused of stealing a life-sized plastic GORILLA from a man's pond.

CCTV shows the dawn raid of the beloved ape - seen as a local landmark for school children in the area.

It was stolen from Chris Moss' home in Frome in Somerset at around 2 am on March 6th.

Despite taking precautions to install CCTV and bolting down the gorilla the thief was filmed first trying and failing to rip the gorilla off the wall.

He then left before returning with bolt cutters.

Police are now appealing for information to catch the suspect in the bizarre act of theft and vandalism.

Chris, an antique clock restorer, said that while the gorilla was not expensive, it carried a lot of sentimental value for the community.

He's since had people knocking on his door asking where it had gone and has made an appeal for information on his Facebook.