Man loses £300 after wind blows cash from his wallet before shoppers pick it up and run off

A man lost £300 after a gust of wind blew the cash from his wallet before passers-by picked it up and ran off.

The victim, in his late 40s, was sitting on a bench in Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens when he put his wallet down briefly on a bench.

However, it quickly fell open onto the ground causing the cash to spill out.

A gust of wind then took hold of the notes and scattered them onto the pavement around him, the Manchester Evening News reported.

A number of people then picked up some of the cash and ran off. After counting up his money, the man told police that around £300 was missing.

Police received a 999 call from a witness to the incident at 2.37pm on Sunday.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman confirmed the force had received reports of a theft of £300 and were investigating the incident.

It is believed about three people picked up some of the cash and fled.

Officers are now trawling through CCTV from nearby buildings for potential suspects.