A man whose new car was towed away and crushed before he got the chance to drive it says he will not rest until he has got his money back.

Paul Lloyd's C-reg Ford Granada was taken away by contractors working for Lewes District Council just hours after he had handed over £150 for it.

Mr Lloyd, who works for a delivery company, had left his new purchase in Hayward Road, Lewes, while he picked up the keys and paperwork from the previous owner.

He said: "I went with the young lad who sold it to me to Worthing. When we got back, it had gone."

Mr Lloyd, 43, of Godwin Road, Hove, was told the Granada, which did not have a tax disc, had been disposed of by Lewes District Council.

He said: "I called Lee Hire who towed it away and they said it was too late as the car had been crushed. I really couldn't believe it. It was a beautiful machine. I was really looking forward to doing it up."

A spokesman for Lewes District Council confirmed it had asked Lee Hire to dispose of the car, which it believed to be abandoned.

He said: "According to residents the car had been abandoned many weeks ago. It had no tax, bald tyres and was covered in sap from where it had been left underneath a willow tree."

He said the council served the car's owner with a seven-day notice and attached signs to the windscreen, which were still in place a week later.

"After a further seven days, we contacted Lee Hire which collected the vehicle and disposed of it."

This is small compensation for Mr Lloyd, who said: "My friends think it is funny and are laughing about it but I am determined not to come out of this the loser."