This is the moment a clever squirrel enjoys a hearty drink on a public sink after apparently working out how to set off the sensor tap.

The incident was filmed next to a river in the city of Kunming in the southern Chinese province of Yunnan on 5th June.

In the video, which has been widely shared on the Chinese social network Douyin, the cute squirrel is seen glugging on water on a public sink after apparently working out how to set off the sensor tap.

At one point, the cheeky chap stops to look at the excited cameraperson before returning to its drink, apparently unfazed by the sudden attention of onlookers.

The squirrel inadvertently turns off the tap and cannot work out why the water has stopped.

However, the rodent then lowers its front legs from the tap and sets off the sensor again, allowing it to take another big swig as the camerawoman laughs.

The camerawoman, Ms Sun, told AsiaWire: “The video was filmed at Kunming Cuihu Park on June 5th during an organised trip there. We saw this little squirrel drinking water by chance, and hurried over to film it. At that time, the squirrel used its paws to touch the sensor area, and when the water came out, it drank. It felt like a child was playing.

“Later, more and more people took pictures without disturbing it. It just raised its head, took a look and continued to drink water. It ran away when it was full, it was so cute.”