A search has been launched in the US state of Texas  for a woman caught on camera stealing a wedding ring from a deceased woman as she lay in her casket.

Lois Hicks' family posted the video on Facebook in the hopes of tracking the thief down.

In the video the unidentified woman is seen shaking Mrs Hicks' hand before forcing off the ring as she lay in Sunset Funeral Home in the town of Odessa.

Mrs Hicks' family say they will now have to lay the 88 year old to rest without her precious wedding ring.