Police have arrested two men in connection with theft from shops in the Hesketh Park area of Southport.

At around 9.25pm on Wednesday 11 April, two men were reported as being involved in a theft of food from Co-Op in Marshside Road. Officers attended and two men were detained on suspicion of theft offences that night and on previous occasions on Monday, 9 April.

20-year-old Martin Magill of no fixed abode was charged with theft from a shop and appeared at Sefton Magistrates Court on Friday, 13 April and ordered to pay a fine and costs.

A 34-year-old man of no fixed abode was arrested on suspicion of theft and public order offences has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Local Policing Inspector Graham Fisher said: "We are committed to ensuring that businesses in Southport are safe places to work and visit.

“Any information on offences will be acted upon and officers have been in the area in recent days to provide reassurance and a high-visibility presence."

Anyone with information on theft is asked to contact @MerPolCC, call 101, or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111.