A family are distraught after their 52-year-old family Mini disappeared was stolen from their garage.

The 1960 car, which the family called 'Whizzbee', had been passed onto John Mason 47 years ago and he had kept using it ever since.

Carly Ward, John’s granddaughter, said the old Mini was famous in their Sidcup neighbourhood and had been popular at classic car shows.

She said: “It means everything to him. It has great sentimental value to our family.

“It drove me to Essex for my wedding and it was the wedding car itself with my grandpa as my chauffeur.

“He was still driving the mini and over recent years has done the London to Brighton mini run.”

The family believe Whizzbee may have been stolen from their garage and are urging anyone who has seen it to get into contact.

Carly, 27, said: “My grandpa uses the car daily, driving it to and from their family-run business from New Eltham to Sidcup.

“He then securely locks it in his garage around the back of Old Farm housing estate. Someone would have to have known it was in there to steal it.”

Have you seen Whizzbee? Contact News Shopper at joe.dempsey@newsquest.co.uk