Playwright Alan Bennett robbed of £1,500

The 76-year-old Leeds-born writer was targeted by two women and a man on a trip to the bank and shops near his home in Camden, north London.

The suspects spattered the back of his raincoat with ice cream before pretending to clean him up as they took his wallet from a pocket.

The "distraction" robbery is a favourite with thieves in London's West End and police have repeatedly warned tourists and shoppers to be on their guard.

Bennett, whose works include his Talking Heads monologues, The Madness Of George III and The History Boys, returned to his bank where police were called.

He said: "Oh, most upsetting. But I shall be writing about it in my diaries."

A police spokesman said no one had been arrested and the inquiry was continuing.

He said: "The incident occurred on Friday at about 12.15pm in a shop on Camden High Street."