A DAD spoke of his delight after his stolen rare American car was found by a dog walker - thanks to an appeal in the Echo.

Mick Bullock, 62, was devastated to discover that his left-hand drive Lincoln Navigator L had disappeared from the front of his house in Lime Avenue, Leigh.

The granddad-of-two had only imported the seven seat vehicle from the USA 12 weeks ago, after searching the internet for months to find his dream car.

He had been spending time and money making the rare car legal for Britain’s roads, and didn't even have chance to driver it himself before it was snatched.

His dream of being reunited with the car, which was stolen overnight between Wednesday, May 11 and Thursday, May 12, have now come true after the Echo published an appeal for information.

On Thursday a man was walking his dog in a playing field off New Road, Hadleigh, when he came across the car abandoned in a pile of stinging nettles.

After recognising the car from a picture in the Echo, the dog walker managed to get in contact with Mr Bullock.

The builder visited the area and confirmed the car was indeed his missing Lincoln Navigator.

Mr Bullock said: "A man found it walking his dog and his wife remembered seeing it in the Echo. He knew we lived in Lime Avenue so he knocked on my door and said he thought he'd found my car.

"I am just waiting for it to be recovered.

"There is a little damage on the front wing but it seems to be as it was. It was just planted in a load of nettles.

"I am really happy to have it back and it's thanks to the article in the Echo.

"The damage is what it is but the difference to the value of the car is phenomenal.

"Everybody is over the moon."

Mr Bullock said that he will repair the car and continue to make it road legal before aiming to drive it for the first time in the next couple of weeks.

No arrests have yet been made in connection with the theft.

Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111