A new mobile game that encourages users to "steal" from each other to win real prizes has launched.

Snatch is a virtual treasure hunt game that uses a player's location on their smartphone and encourages them to seek out virtual parcels that contain prizes including a year's free pizza from Pizza Hut and a year of university fees paid for by the app.

Users can grab unclaimed parcels, as well as those currently held by other players.

The app contains 250,000 prize parcels, which also includes two-month passes to TV streaming services and personalised Marmite jars for the finder and all of their Facebook friends.

The game was created by former forensic scientist Joe Martin, who said he developed the app after becoming tired of spending money on mobile games and not getting anything tangible in return.

Mr Martin said: "This is all about winning, against your friends and strangers.

"We are so excited to get the UK out and active, playing Snatch and winning real prizes.

"I've spent two years developing this game and it's an amazing feeling to see it finally go live to the British public across the country, just in time for Christmas."

Early players have been the most prolific, snatching more than 41,000 parcels so far, according to the app.

Players in Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow are next on the list.