ONE of the last Ford Escorts to be commissioned for Devon and Cornwall Police has been restored to its former glory and is to go on display in Okehampton.

The 1999 Ford Escort patrol car was retired from police service in early 2006 and lay unused and deteriorating until 2008 when it was acquired by the Devon and Cornwall Police Heritage and Learning Resource, which is based in Okehampton. The earliest parts of their collection, which is currently in storage, dates back to 1840.

Built at Ford's Halewood plant on March 4 1999, and commissioned and registered in early 2000, the car was to be one of the last Ford Escorts delivered to the force. During its time it served the Plymouth and Ivybridge areas.

In 2011 a sponsorship deal was struck with three companies who agreed to supply restoration materials to avoid any cost to the police force.

The car was taken to South Devon College in Paignton who had agreed to supply the labour to return the car to pristine condition.

Angela Sutton-Vane, curator for the police collection said she was delighted to see the car returned to its former glory.

'The Ford will continue its journey now thanks to enthusiastic local businesses. It will return to Okehampton on display at the garage of I G MacCullock & Sons in East Street from the end of January. Stuart MacCullock has generously offered to house it until permanent garaging can be found.'