Hotel theft is becoming an “outside job” with guests stealing plants from the grounds, according to a survey.

As well as digging up plantation, guests have also taken bark chippings from flower beds, a survey by Best Western hotels showed.

Other items that have fallen foul of light-fingered guests include a suite of armour, a two-piece leather suite, a 12ft-long model of Concorde, and a cigarette machine.

One guest even managed to clear out an entire hotel room – taking everything except the bed.

The ill-gotten haul included a bedspread and matching curtains, a plasma TV set, a hairdryer, kettle, cups and saucers.

The most common items taken include toiletries, towels and teaspoons. Before Christmas, thieves also target tinsel, festive lights and even nativity scenes.

Best Western head of marketing, Tim Wade, said: “By far the large majority of our guests are the epitome of honesty. But, just occasionally we get a rogue who takes more than the odd soap or shampoo home with them.

“It appears the more unusual and personality-packed the items, the more they appeal to those light-fingered guests. Goodness knows how guests managed to conceal a suit of armour or indeed a sofa when they checked out.”