Northamptonshire Police e-fit 'looks like Red Dwarf's Kryten' Published duration 17 May 2019

image copyright Northamptonshire Police/Getty Images image caption The e-fit was likened to Kryten - a robot character from sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf

A police force's e-fit image has been mocked for its apparent resemblance to a host of well-loved characters - including Kryten from Red Dwarf.

The suspect image, issued by Northamptonshire Police, was posted in a bid to trace a distraction burglar.

But it attracted jokes rather than tip-offs, with people likening it to a Lego man and Toy Story hero Buzz Lightyear.

The force has been mocked before for its criminal photofits, but defended the "attention-grabbing" images.

On its latest effort, social media users suggested cartoon characters Hey Arnold and SpongeBob Squarepants were dead ringers for the suspect.

'Humpty's long-lost dad'

One post on Facebook said the man appeared to be "the star of the Lego movies", while another observed: "Buzz Lightyear has gone downhill."

image copyright Getty Images image caption The suspect's wide chin drew comparisons to Toy Story character Buzz Lightyear

"Distraction burglary... Was his face the distraction?" asked another Facebook user.

Other posts likened the e-fit to "Humpty Dumpty's long-lost dad", a villain in the video game Grand Theft Auto, and Kryten, a robot character from the popular sci-fi comedy series.

"Kryten from Red Dwarf would like his head back," said one commenter.

"Ok, so we're looking for Robocop without his helmet on, got it," added another.

Among more than 700 contributions on Facebook, some showed concerned for the man, with one asking: "Has he been run over by a steam roller?"

But others compared his face to "a rolled thumb print", or a "reflection from the back of a spoon".

"I didn't realise it was possible for your head to be wider than your haircut," marvelled one commenter.

In 2016 an image of another distraction burglar with a " platypus mouth " attracted dozens of comments.

While many poked fun at the latest image, others expressed sympathy for the woman who was targeted in the burglary and urged witnesses to come forward.

Police said the burglar had knocked on the woman's door between 13:30 and 14:30 BST on Thursday and told her he needed to check pipes for "sewage issues".

As she was in the back garden with the man, another person entered the house in Vernon Walk, Northampton, and stole cash.

The force has been approached for a comment on the response to its latest image.