A KENT motorist is facing a huge bill to replace his car after it was stolen by thieves and impounded by the police.

John Little, of Middle Quarter, High Halden, was left fuming when he discovered that his wife's Vauxhall Astra had been recovered by police and subsequently impounded.

He tracked his missing vehicle to a pound at Detling, near Maidstone, where he was faced with a hefty charge to retrieve it.

He said: "Nobody told me about it – by the time I found it the charge was £384 for a car worth less than £100. I am very angry. It's extortion."

According to Kent Police, the car was stolen on July 3 from the railway station car park and all notifications with the owner would have been made by the British Transport Police.

British Transport Police were unavailable for comment.

* See the Kentish Express (Thursday, July 20) for the full story.