Police are searching for a man who distracted a 95-year-old woman at her front door while an accomplice broke in and stole her handbag.

When his digitally-created image was published on Facebook, it was met with derision by members of the public and quickly went viral.

It attracted hundreds of shares and comments.

One person wrote: “I know this is a serious post but did the old lady tell the police her handbag was stolen by a pillar box?”

Another joked: “His father was a platypus.”

The police force has stood by the image.

In a comment, Northamptonshire Police wrote: “We’re glad this post is grabbing peoples’ attention. This was a despicable crime against a vulnerable, elderly lady and if the e-fit helps jog somebody’s memory and this goes on to help catch the offender then it’s done it’s job.”