More than 80,000 cans of beer were spilled across the road after a lorry overturned in Thailand – and people were quick to help with the clean up.

Locals were seen loading up bags, bikes and cars with the amber nectar after the accident outside a shop in Phuket.

Dozens of were also caught on camera as they picked up cans, although it was unclear how many were helping authorities to clear the area or helping themselves to the beer.

Police launched an investigation into the thefts and said they had arrested four people.

“They have admitted that they saw other people taking beer cans, so they did too,” Phuket City police chief Sompong Thiparpakun told The Thaiger website. “They say they have consumed the contents of all beer cans.

“If evidence can be provided that other people took these beer cans and sold them, legal action will be taken against them too. It was illegal to remove these items from the crash scene.”

The truck driver told investigators that he lost control rounding a curve at 40mph and crashed into roadside food stalls.

Police initially said the load may have dropped off the truck because it was not secured properly.

Photos of the scene of the accident on 11 January show packages of beer cans scattered across the road and the forecourt of a 7-11 store.

One woman was photographed with packs of cans stacked up on a motorbike while others were shown collecting cans in bags.

The delivery company, Sirimongkon Logistics, later filed a complaint to police about the missing beer, claiming that the truck was carrying 86,400 cans of Leo worth two million baht (£48,600).

“This incident is divided into two cases,” said police chief Thiparpakun. ”The first case is the traffic accident which police are investigating as the truck damaged nearby food stalls and vehicles.