Stolen vintage Mini found destroyed

A rare vintage car stolen from Ottery St Mary has been found burned out and destroyed in Somerset.

The 1968 MKII Austin Mini Cooper was taken from a car park at Otter Mills Switch Gear on Mill Street around 11pm on Thursday 29 May.

Police and the fire service found the £6,500 classic car well alight in a side road off Welshmill Lane in Frome around 1am on Saturday 31 May. It was completely destroyed by fire.

Officers are now appealing for anyone who may have seen the distinctive car in the area during the 24 hours after it was stolen.

They are particularly keen to speak to anyone who may have seen it being driven between Ottery St Mary and Somerset any time between Thursday evening and the early hours of Saturday.

A police spokesman said: “This is heartbreaking for the owner as this car was his pride and joy. It was a fairly rare and distinctive vehicle and would have been easy to spot. We would ask anyone who may have seen it or came into contact with the car to get in touch with police.”

The car was white in colour with black wheels and a black roof; it had distinctive red and black bucket seats and carried the registration mark NDV 919G.

Anyone with any information is asked to please call police on 101, or anonymously Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 ref CR/077172/14.