AN Okehampton resident has been left shocked and frustrated after he woke up to find his car had been moved — to his neighbour's garden.

The incident took place in Moyses Meadow in the early hours yesterday (Wednesday).

Geoffrey Phillips, who will be 75 this month, said it was not the first time his car had been tampered with.

Mr Phillips said: 'The car must have been moved in the early hours, but nobody saw or heard a thing.

'I would say it must have taken at least four people to lift it and move it across the road to next door's garden.

'When I lived in Domehayes Terrace I had my old Robin Reliant moved from my drive.

'It was moved right up to the church gateway across the road, and it was twice turned over on its side.'

Mr Phillips said he had noticed his car was parked crooked on a number of occasions.

'I have looked at my car on some mornings and thought it had been moved three foot or so.

'It does leave me feeling a bit annoyed because at the end of the day, it is somebody touching my property and it is such a quiet area, it's a shame.'

The car was pulled out by the mayor of Okehampton, Cllr David Weekes, who lives next door to Mr Phillips, with the help of a few neighbours.

Cllr Weekes said it was the first time he had heard of a car being moved in this way.

He said: 'We used the old West Country Models van to pull the car out from the garden.

'How they got the car down there in the first place baffles me, I've never known this to happen before.'

Cllr Weekes said he will be keeping a watchful eye out from now on.

'It's just senseless — whoever did it thinks it is a joke — but it is not.

'I will be parking my car next to Mr Phillips' from now on and will be looking out for anything going on,' he said.

Anyone who has information on the incident should contact Okehampton police station on 08452 777444.