A pet centre owner was left heartbroken after his Landrover Freelander, used to rescue animals, was found damaged beyond repair, reports the Mid Sussex Times.

Steve Edgington, who owns Hassocks Pet Centre near Brighton, hoped he would find his beloved 4x4 but his dream was shattered when he received a call from the police on Tuesday. The vehicle had been stolen on Christmas Eve.

He said: “I had a call from the police to say they had recovered my vehicle in Brighton – it was apparently involved in a police incident, and it has been written off.

“It is such a shame – it is devastating, there is always that hope when something has been stolen or you have lost something – that you are going to get it back in one piece.

“I always kept her nice – she was beautiful, she had just passed her MOT – it is heartbreaking that it has ended like this.”

To read the full story click here