A classic car has been stolen from the driveway of an 84-year-old man in Tankerton.

Don Barker was shocked to find that his 1964 Ford Anglia van had been taken from behind a locked set of gates.

The incident is believed to have happened between Monday, January 25 and Tuesday, January 26.

The former Royal Air Force serviceman moved to Whitstable in 1956 and he bought the van in 1979.

He said: “I don’t hold much hope of seeing it again - I think it has been stolen to order and it will probably be long gone by now.

“I used to keep the van out the front but a chap down the road had his campervan stolen a couple of years ago and since then I’ve moved it behind the gates - but that still hasn't stopped them from taking it.

“There seems to be a gang of people going around pinching historic vehicles.”

Mr Barker’s van is described as a blue Thames 7cwt with registration number 355HLU.

The blue paint has faded and there are signs of rust on all the doors.

It has no battery tray under the bonnet and features its original seats which are both worn.

Mr Barker said: “This was my first and only vehicle, I kept it going since 1979 and did all my own maintenance.

“I never really saw it as a classic car, it just got me from A to B and hardly ever let me down, I’m fed up and this has upset the year a bit.”

The loss of his vehicle has come at distressing time for Mr Barker after his wife died in December last year.

The search for the van picked up momentum after a Facebook post by Neil Armstrong of Motor Hipster - a classic car enthusiasts website.

Mr Armstrong said: “The car was his pride and joy which he used to use to take his wife to the local shops.

“Unfortunately she died just before Christmas so in just over a month he’s lost two things that were special to him.

“There is a reward on offer for its safe return and prosecution of those responsible for stealing it.”

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 quoting crime reference ZY/2849/16.