Three men were arrested for siphoning petrol from a tanker on the outskirts of Ashby on Wednesday night.

The incident happened on a layby on the A42 - and the trio were apparently caught red-handed according to a tweet from Leicestershire Roads Policing Unit who worked alongside Leicestershire Police Tactical Dogs & Firearms Unit to catch the men, who were all from Birmingham.

They posted: "What a result !!!Three males arrested on the A42, caught in the act of stealing diesel and petrol from this tanker!! Brilliant teamwork by RPU, a dog unit & control room.

"Talk about 'Jump' - busily stealing your fuel then all of a sudden "POLICE!!!"

A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said on Thursday: "Shortly after 9.45pm yesterday (Wednesday 29 July) we received a report of a theft in progress at a layby on the northbound carriageway of the A42 near Ashby.

"It was reported that fuel was being siphoned from a tanker.

"Officers attended and three men from Birmingham – aged 47, 45 and 42 – were subsequently arrested on suspicion of theft.