A stolen car was found dumped in a protected woodland after ploughing through a metal gate, causing £800 of damage.

The burned out Land Rover was discovered by a walker on Friday morning in the middle of Bredhurst Woods, ancient woodland which is part of an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The vehicle had been set alight, the windscreen was smashed and the roof destroyed. It had been reported stolen the previous day from an address in Chatham.

The owner posted an appeal on Facebook on New Year’s Day, asking anyone who had seen the car to get in touch, which was shared by dozens of people.

A member of Bredhurst Woodland Action Group (BWAG) saw the post, realised it was the same vehicle found in the woods and had to break the news to the owner online.

A spokesman for BWAG, set up 10 years ago to protect the woods from off-road vehicles, said: “The driver had just gone through the metal gate.

"It was still padlocked at one end and on its hinges at the other. It will cost £800 to replace. It is just senseless.

“To use the by-way you must have a permit from Kent County Council. The police have seized vehicles in the past which have been driven on the road without a permit.”

The owner later posted online: "Ten years of loving TLC down the drain."

Police are investigating the theft.

A spokesman said: “Police were called at 9.15am on January 2 to Bredhurst woods following a report that a suspected stolen vehicle had been found there.

“The vehicle, a Land Rover, has been recovered.

“It is believed to have been stolen from Chatham in the evening of January 1. Inquiries are ongoing.”