A clumsy crook left a vital clue behind when he stole two bikes back in March - his footprints in the snow which led straight to his front door.

Police were called to a house in Northumberland, when the resident noticed her son's bikes had vanished from her shed. However, due to the fresh snowfall in the area, officers were able to follow a set of footprints in the snow which led to a house a few hundred yards away. A 16-year-old lad was arrested and the stolen bikes were recovered.