A MINI collector is “devastated” after his rare car was stolen from the driveway- even though it did not have a battery.

Gerald Finnerty, of Bellevue Avenue, Southend, had put the battery of his 1961 Morris Mini Minor on charge before going to bed at about 10pm on Sunday night.

However, when the postman got up at about 5am the next day to start his rounds, it was gone.

The 59-year-old said: “I’m devastated. It was my pride and joy.

“I’m just mystified as to how they actually did it.”

Mr Finnerty said the red car, with registration mark JAS 990, is unusual because it has a grill with two spotlights.

He said he had only recently finished repairing the roof and the car was his last Mini after being forced to sell three others in the past.

He said: “It was a really early model. There aren’t many of them around.

“I recently had a new roof panel put on it because it was corroded. It cost about £1,200 and I think I bought the car in 2000 for between £5,000-£10,000.

“They are so rare now, they just don’t come up for sale.”

Because it was his last Mini, Mr Finnerty said he decided to use the car to get to work and somebody may have seen it while he was out.

He said: “I think maybe someone wanted the car for the body or somebody has stolen it to order. It definitely wasn’t a random theft.

“It doesn’t do the car much good to be sitting around in the garage so I thought I would start driving it.

“People would always stop and look.

“A lot of people have been sharing details on Facebook and I just want people to keep an eye out for it.”

“Anyone with information should call Essex Police on 101.”