Scotland Yard has performed an embarrassing u-turn after initially casting doubt on claims that Hollywood actor, Tom Hardy had chased down a thief in London.

It had been reported that the film star who has appeared in a string of Hollywood blockbusters, including The Revenant and The Dark Knight Rises had apprehended a suspect after chasing him from the scene of a crash.

According to The Sun newspaper witnesses saw the actor vaulting over walls and running through gardens as he chased the thief before catching him and declaring: "I caught the c---."