THIEVES stole a top-of-the-range 4x4 owned by Manchester United star Paul Scholes as he defrosted the windscreen at his Pennine home.

The footballer, above, left the engine running to melt ice on his grey Chevrolet Captiva Estate while it was parked on his driveway and nipped back inside his home in Greenfield.

When he returned, the car had been stolen.

The incident happened on Monday morning between 7.45am and 8am, Greater Manchester Police said.

Police urged drivers not to leave their cars running and unattended while defrosting as it only takes a thief a few seconds to steal the vehicle.

Scholes, 38, has played his entire professional career at Manchester United, making more than 700 appearances for the club and 66 appearances for England.