POLICE are appealing for help to p-p-pick up a penguin wanted in connection with a shop theft.

The monochrome thief entered the Sainsbury’s Local store, on Collingwood Street, in Coundon, near Bishop Auckland, late on Monday (August 18) night and stole a quantity of lager.

He entered the store just after 10pm and took a crate containing ten cans of Stella Artois lager, worth £8, and left without paying.

Durham police have released images of a suspected shoplifter captured on CCTV before he took flight.

He is described as a white male, in his 20s, and was wearing a black and white penguin onesie or fancy dress outfit with a yellow beak.

Acting Inspector Vicky Guthrie said: “He would be quite conspicuous and made off on foot so may have come to the attention of someone in the area.”

Anyone who can identify him is asked to contact Durham police on 101 and quote reference SA1401700.