WHEN motorist David Banks ran to answer a ringing phone, little did he know what that call would cost him.

In the rush, he left his keys dangling in the ignition of his £25,000 Land Rover Discovery Serengeti. When the chartered surveyor emerged from his office, G Herbert Banks, at around 1.30pm last Wednesday, he was horrified to realise his car was missing.

At first he thought it was a practical joke - his Discovery had been parked directly outside the office window, half a mile down a private drive outside Great Witley.

But Mr Banks certainly wasn't laughing - and now he's offering a £2,500 reward for any information which might lead to the recovery of the 4x4.

"I'm furious. I cannot believe anyone had the nerve to pinch the vehicle from outside my window, it seems incredible," said the 60-year-old, who also lives in the village.

"The reason I'm offering a reward is that it might enable us to catch the culprit.

"I'm obviously extremely surprised that anyone had the nerve to do this and think it's a reflection on society.

"I know vehicles are stolen regularly but not from rural locations like this. At least no one was hurt and at the end of the day it's only a car."

The two-year-old vehicle contained valuable possessions when it was taken, including a camera, mobile telephone and clothing.

His two Labradors were running around outside and did not alert him to the theft.

Mr Banks said he believed an opportunist might have walked passed and spotted the keys in the ignition.

He said he spotted a man walking on a nearby public footpath at about 10am but did not see any other strangers.

He added that it was a quiet single-track drive, and that anyone passing the driver would have been likely to have pulled over.

The registration of the dark blue vehicle is VO02 PJY.