A man is “depressed” and in “disbelief” after his prized Ford worth £25k was loaded onto a flatbed truck and stolen.

Graham, who does not want to give his surname, said he was unable to eat or sleep after discovering his 1955 Zodiac had been taken.

The car was nicked from a locked garage in Beckenham at around 10am on September 12.

Graham, 50, had owned the prized Ford for 11 years and says he spent a lot of time and money restoring it.

(Image: SWNS)

He was informed of the theft by multiple neighbours as it is “quite a distinct vehicle” and locals knew it belonged to him.

Witnesses saw two men driving into a close off Coper Cope Close in Beckenham in a white Ford Transit flatbed truck, it is claimed.

Graham said: “I got a phone call that two guys in a white Transit with stolen plates on it had turned up, cut the two bolts off, and busted the middle lock.

“It was seen travelling up Beckenham high street uncovered still on the back of that truck.

“This was not a standard car so it couldn’t just be sold on, it has a lot of modifications to it.

“It couldn’t even be used so I think it is either in a lock up somewhere, has been sent out of the country, or has been stripped for parts. That is the only conclusion I can come to.

“The police are doing an ongoing investigation. I am nowhere forward at the moment just waiting on answers. Fingers crossed and we will see what develops.”

The owner says the theft left him heartbroken as he had spent so much time working on the car- making it “irreplaceable”.

He estimates that in today’s market the vehicle would be worth between £22,000 and £25,000.

He added: “I have been collecting different cars over the years, but this one I am most attached to.

“I have done extensive work on it over the years and put a lot of time and work into it.

“It is a bit upsetting. I was in shock, total disbelief. I am just depressed about the whole situation really.

“For the first couple of nights I couldn’t sleep and had no appetite. I just felt genuinely sick about the whole thing.

“It was a bit more sentimental. It is not like an average car.

“You can replace an average car, but you can’t replace this because there are so many bits and pieces that I have put on it to give my personal touch.”

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed an investigation is ongoing to find the missing car.