An amateur racing driver has recovered his stolen £40,000 racing car - thanks to his local newspaper.

The black Steads RS06 was stolen in November from outside company director Iain Cumming's home in Shakespeare Road, Bexleyheath, where it was parked on a trailer.

It is one of only 30 in the world and can reach speeds of up to 150mph.

But it is such a specialist vehicle it would be almost impossible for most people to even get it started.

Mr Cumming, 45, said it was likely it could only be sold to the racing fraternity "and I have already notified them it is missing".

He appealed for its return through News Shopper, and offered a £5,000 reward.

After the story was published, a man turned up in January and told Mr Cumming's mother he thought he had seen the car in a yard in Erith.

Mr Cumming was away from home, so he called his partner who drove to the yard, while Mr Cumming travelled there by cab.

The police had also arrived and gained access to the yard, where they searched for the car.

They found it under a tarpaulin in the middle of a row of parked cars.

Mr Cumming says the car was largely undamaged, except for scratches and some minor damage, while the six spare wheels and tyres, worth £500 each, were still intact.

The only thing missing was the trailer, which Mr Cumming assumes has been sold.

He was able to take the car back on the track at Brands Hatch for the first time last week, and it came through the trials successfully.

Mr Cumming now plans to race it at Brands Hatch on April 20 in aid of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, the Royal Marsden Hospital and the RNLI.

Anyone offering sponsorship can call him on 020 7232 4848.

A spokesman for Bexley police said the investigation into the theft is ongoing.

She added: "We have completed a forensic examination and are waiting to see if anything can be matched to a suspect."