A CLASSIC car which was stolen from Andover earlier this year has reportedly been used for banger racing and ‘wrecked’.

As previously reported, an Andover man issued an appeal to residents in June to keep their eyes out for his classic car which was stolen from a residential area.

Mark Wright’s 1985 Ford LTD Country Squire wagon was parked in a permit-holders car park near his home on Floral Way.

The 65-year-old, who works as a premises assistant for Test Valley Borough Council, explained that he doesn’t believe the car to be of much monetary value, but that it meant a lot to him.

He got it from California at the end of last year, and it is the vehicle featured in the National Lampoon films.

READ MORE: Andover car theft: Mark Wright appeals for help to trace stolen vehicle

Mark had almost given up hope of ever seeing the vehicle again, when he received a call from Hampshire Constabulary on Sunday (August 7).

He said: “The whole sordid affair came to fruition on Sunday afternoon as I was returning from a pleasant morning at 'Trout n about' in Stockbridge. My phone rang and it was Hampshire Constabulary asking if I had seen a picture posted that day on Facebook showing two American cars being transported into Ringwood raceway.

“I stopped the car and looked up the post and sure enough it looked like my Ford Squire. Suddenly I was bombarded with messages on social media alerting me that my car was about to be raced and wrecked.”

Banger racing is a motorsport event in which scrap vehicles are raced against one another.

Mark made his way to the track while his partner attempted to contact the organisers in an effort to stop the car being raced.

He continued: “When we arrived, we were asked by the organiser to wait at the entrance gates until the police arrived, fearful that trouble would ensue, however by this time the race had unfortunately been run so that was that!”

Once he was allowed in, Mark said he “knew immediately” that on of two allegedly stolen cars was his.

“It is the only model registered by the DVLA in the UK, plus it still had the unique alloy wheels that I'd fitted on it,” he said.

“I am angry and frustrated that these kind of thoughtless selfish people think they can get away with these type of crimes! We can only hope that the English judicial system will teach them a lesson!”

The second vehicle was a 1965 Pontiac 65 Grand Prix, owned by Fred Fieber, an illustrator from Salisbury, which was stolen around the same time as Mark’s.

SEE ALSO: Stolen cars smashed and impounded at Ringwood Raceway

Mark added that he has “since received volumes of supportive messages from the Banger racing fans both in the UK and abroad” and doesn’t blame the sport itself, but those who take and sell on the vehicles.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary said: “I can confirm that a stolen Ford Ltd Crown Victoria Squire station wagon was recovered from Matchams Park Stadium in Christchurch on Sunday, 7 August. An investigation is ongoing.”

The Advertiser contacted Ringwood Raceway, but management declined to comment.