This is the shocking moment a woman kicks and tramples poppy wreaths laid in tribute to fallen soldiers at the cenotaph in St Peter's Square.

CCTV footage, released by Manchester council, shows the woman stooping to look at the wreaths which commemorate the Battle of the Somme.

But after reading the messages she decides to walk over the line of wreaths and kicks several from the cenotaph.

The woman, aged in her 20s, then walks away from the cenotaph with her friend as if nothing has happened.

Some of the artificial poppies were left damaged following the incident.

Police were called to the landmark at 4.32am on Friday morning.

Officers helped put all the wreaths back in their correct place.

The woman was traced to a nearby street using the CCTV footage.

She was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and remains in police custody.

Councillors are now planning to hold a meeting to discuss security at the cenotaph.

Councillor Pat Karney, city centre spokesman for Manchester council, said:

The protection of our Cenotaph is of the utmost importance to Manchester and the message is plain - if you vandalise this monument to those who gave their lives for this country, we will catch you in the act and work with the police to make sure that you are punished. Councillor Pat Karney

It comes just weeks after a man was caught on CCTV kicking wreaths at the same cenotaph.The smartly dressed man was captured kicking the wreaths and performing a ‘running kick’.

He was fined £90 for his actions and also offered to take on some voluntary charity work for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

In February another man was caught urinating on the cenotaph.

Caedmon Kerr, 24, from Wythenshawe , was handed 200 hours of unpaid work by a judge who branded his behaviour ‘disrespectful’ and ‘disgusting.’