A MAN who stole his very own Christmas tree from a Denbighshire forest has been made to pay 'suitable compensation'.

The incident, posted to the North Wales Police's Rural Crime Team Facebook account on November 30, saw a vehicle make off from Clocaenog Forest with a tree on its roof.

Police, who described the man responsible as a 'chancer', say the culprit was caught thanks to the numerous trail cameras located around the site capturing footage of the car leaving.

The suitable compensation paid by the man following the theft has been donated to the Red Squirrel Conservation Trust, which is based at Clocaenog.

A statement on the North Wales Police's Rural Crime Team page read: "Our tree thief has today (December 4) been dealt with via a Community Resolution after discussion with Natural Resources Wales.

"He has had to pay suitable compensation which has now been donated to the Red Squirrel Conservation Trust at Cloceanog where he stole the Christmas tree."

Following the tree theft, Rob Taylor, North Wales Police rural crime team manager, said:they are working with Natural Resources Wales to target people who think they can take a shortcut and help themselves to a tree for Christmas.

He said: "There are vast forest blocks across North Wales and NRW has a number of covert trail cameras so the chances of getting caught are high.

"There are a number of options open to us so don't take the chance. People might think there's no problem taking one, but these trees are owned by NRW in the main and you're committing theft which could land you in court and with a conviction."