A 33-year-old man from the New Forest has been arrested after posing as a contractor for Openreach and Virgin Media.

After being caught by police pulling cables from a manhole cover in Hythe, the man told police he was sub-contracting for Openreach and Virgin.

Once police had made contact with the two telecommunication companies, they confirmed there was no scheduled works due to take place.

Openreach’s security team reported a ‘possible cable theft’ at around 2am on Monday, following an activation of an alarm placed upon a manhole cover at Butts Bridge on Hill Road, Hythe.

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The manhole cover had been subsequently lifted. 

Police officers were deployed to the scene and located approximately 100m of cable on a nearby path  which had been seemingly pulled from within the cover.

The cable was seen to be leading to a car parked a short distance up the road. 

Officers spoke directly to a man who as part of their enquiries into the matter suggested that he was carrying out sub-contracting works in the area but was awaiting support from colleagues.

However, further enquiries later showed that neither Openreach or Virgin had any scheduled works due to take place in the local area at that time.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: "As a result, a 33-year-old man from Ashurst was arrested on suspicion of theft and his vehicle seized for the purpose of aiding the ongoing investigation. 

"He remains in custody at this time."