A WIRRAL knitter has labelled a thief’s behaviour as “vile” after CCTV footage shows them removing a handmade topper from a post box in New Brighton.

On March 5 Julie Walker, 54, from Liscard displayed her ‘Betty Bunny’ creation on Victoria Road.

However, just eight days later when she went to take her mum to see the post box, she discovered it had been stolen.

Julie told the Globe: “I was so angry and upset when I saw it had been stolen. They take so long to make.”

Wirral Globe: Betty BunnyBetty Bunny

Julie said this is the second time one of her knitted toppers have been stolen.

She said: “I had put Betty Bunny out earlier than I wanted because my Olly Octopus was stolen at the end of February and was never found.

Wirral Globe: Olly OctopusOlly Octopus

“I was gutted. I have plans for the jubilee and more throughout the year, but I worry now about them being stolen or vandalised.”

Julie took to social media to see if anyone had located Betty Bunny and was met by hundreds of comments sharing her outrage.

Julie said: “So many people had made lovely comments about her. I love seeing how they make people feel and it makes me proud to know that I play a part in bringing happiness.

“It’s just a shame some people ruin it.”

Since posting about the whereabouts of her latest post box topper, a local woman messaged Julie to say she had found Betty damaged in a car park by a nearby pub.

Julie has since obtained CCTV footage from the night that Betty was stolen and is appealing for information.

She said: “I am disgusted that another person would do this.

“I think their behaviour in the video is vile and hope they are ashamed of their actions.

“To them, it might only be a stuffed toy but to me, it is for spreading cheer which we all need in the current climate.”