A child welfare charity has condemned thieves who were captured on CCTV using a young boy to steal a mobile phone from a Cancer Research store.

The NSPCC has spoken out after the shocking footage emerged last week following a number of thefts in Faversham, Broadstairs and Wimbledon in London, believed to be carried out by the same two men and a boy aged around five.

The video was released by the Metropolitan Police, showing a man using the boy to steal a shop worker's mobile phone, who then conceals it in his trousers.

An NSPCC spokesman said: “Anyone watching this footage will clearly be shocked by what appears to be a child being forced to break the law.

“If that’s what has happened, it’s abuse and it’s completely unacceptable.

“The images appear to show a vulnerable young boy who is unlikely to understand the full implications of these actions.

“We urge police and children’s services to work together and ensure the child’s welfare.”