POLICE are hunting a man who jumped into the Leeds and Liverpool Canal to escape arrest.

Officers were called to Clayton-le-Moors at 4.15am on Sunday by a member of the public who saw two men acting suspiciously in Poplar Close.

When they arrived, the men had made their way to the canal side at Maple Avenue and were attempting to get away in a canoe.

Insp Phil Hutchinson said: “The men made their way in a canoe. One jumped into the canal to get away.”

Officers found a range of property in the canoe, believed to be stolen, including three sat navs, vehicle fobs, power tools, CCTV cameras and melting Cornetto ice creams.

One man was arrested.

Anybody with information should call police on 101.