A MAN has been arrested and is due in court next month following the theft of items from Knutsford's winning RHS shop front window display.

Knutsford Day Spa and The Dental Academy Knutsford joined forces once again this year and entered the annual RHS shop front window competition that took place while the main show was held at Tatton last week.

After being declared the winner on Thursday afternoon, staff were left devastated when they turned up on Saturday morning to find parts of the display – worth hundreds of pounds – missing.

Police believed the thefts took place overnight between Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25, with garden items and ornaments stolen from the display on Malt Street.

The footage captured two men – who were unaware that the premises had CCTV – at the scene but only one of the men was identifiable.

As a result of the CCTV images being made public on social media within hours of the incident, numerous members of the public were naming one of the individuals involved on social media.

As a result a male 'local' to the Knutsford area was arrested and charged with theft of the stolen items and is due to appear at Macclesfield Magistrates Court next month.

PC Ryan Ogden from Knutsford Police Station said: “I wish to pass on my thanks to the numerous members of the community who assisted in naming and shaming one of the males who stole items from the winning RHS floral display outside the Knutsford Day Spa on Friday night following CCTV images being published.

"Without the help of the community the investigation would not have proceeded as quickly as it did.

"Never has an investigation pleased me more than when I saw the community coming together to help solve this case.

"I’m sure that the owners of the Spa will also like to pass on their thanks for what I can only describe as a fantastic joint effort between the victim, their local constabulary and our community.”

Jan Dobbs, treatment co-ordinator at the Dental Academy, said she was grateful for the CCTV capturing the thieves.

"The support to us from the police, general public, customers and other business owners in the town has been tremendous," she said.

"Although it does not bring the items back it is good to know the sad people who behave so badly and spoil things for everyone can't always get away with it. Thanks goodness for CCTV."