A water pump delivered to residents in Osney Island in Oxford to combat flooding was stolen - and then recovered hours later by police.

The Environment Agency pump was taken after midnight last night from the bottom of Earl Street in Osney.

But officers on a routine patrol in north Oxford hours later saw a man in a transit van acting suspiciously and recovered the pump.

Andy Turton, a spokesman for the Environment Agency, said: "A pump was stolen from Earl Street and the theft was reported to the police.

"It was set up and ready to be used but it was not actually in use at the time of the theft."

At 4am, the 2m-tall pump, which weighs more than a tonne, was recovered by police in a routine patrol at Pear Tree services in north Oxford.

Vicki Evans, a spokesman for Oxford Police, said: "Officers carrying out a routine patrol at the service station witnessed a man putting something in the back of a transit van.

"When he saw us he ran off and we found the pump in the back of the van.

"The pump had Environment Agency markings on it and it also had information on it suggesting it should be delivered to Osney.

"The pump has now been seized for forensic examination and we are working closely with the Environment Agency regarding the return of the pump.

"We are pleased that the officers managed to recover the pump during a routine patrol."

Ms Evans said the driver of the transit van escaped from officers and no arrests have yet been made in connection with the theft of the pump.

Geoff Bell, area flood risk manager for the Environment Agency, said: "I am exceedingly disappointed - it is difficult to credit that people are prepared to do that."

Joel Lazarus, 31, of Lamarsh Road, Oxford, said: "People are just terrible. It was a proper pump.

"They must have had a proper vehicle to do it. I am not surprised people will stoop this low. It's sick."

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact police on 08548 505505.

Water has now seeped past a barricade at the back of Bullstake Close, off Botley Road and a second barricade has been erected using sandbags and tarpaulin, which has stopped most of the flood water seeping onto Bullstake Close.