A CAR belonging to a Kidlington family became a magnet for thieves, we reported in February 1988.

The eight-year-old Cortina, belonging to the Roche family, had been stolen for the second time in two months.

The first time it was missing for less than an hour, while the second time police recovered it after three days.

Sheila Roche, of Laburnum Crescent, Garden City, said the car had not been particularly well looked after, with a hole in one of the doors.

She said: "I don't think it's the sort of car which gets exported to the continent."

She added: "It's a terrible inconvenience to us.

"My husband is a night worker at Austin Rover and my daughter works at a pub.

"Two cars between three of us was bad enough, but when we get down to one it's a real nuisance."

The car had been taken by joyriders and was found by police at the Redbridge Park and Ride off Abingdon Road.