IT was their pride and joy.

Now, a rare American automobile, which had a high priority role in advertising a Hampshire toy shop, has been driven off the road after being wrecked by mindless vandals.

Huge rocks were thrown through the windows of the 1991 Oldsmobile while it was parked outside the West End home of Janet and Roy Flanders, who run Just4Kids store in the village's High Street.

Five windows were smashed and damage was caused to the inside of the seven-seater van. Glass was strewn across the inside of the van and seats were damaged. The bill for the damage is likely to be more than £1,000.

The couple are waiting for the insurance assessors to examine the vehicle but they fear that it could be write-off.

For more on this story see today's Daily Echo