A MOTORIST wants to warn other drivers of the danger of leaving their vehicles running to defrost after her £5,000 car was swiped from her drive.

Stunned Jane Chesney left her R reg Citroen ZX turbo diesel unattended for just a couple of minutes when the sneak thief struck.

The shock prompted her to contact the Citizen just a few hours after the theft on Tuesday morning to alert others.

"I have gone out, started it off running, defrosting. I have gone in the house and someone has stolen it," said the 35-year-old receptionist.

The mum was getting her 10-year-old daughter and six-year-old son ready to drop off at her mother's, who was going to take them to Anderton St Joseph's RC Primary School, before heading off to work.

She explained: "It was about quarter to eight in the morning. It was still quite dark but it goes light quickly. I just said to the children, 'go and get in the car', and my son said 'what car'? I thought he was joking. I went to the front window to look and it had gone."

Jane contacted the police and her husband David, aged 34, a heavy plant operator. She said the police operator told her of another similar theft in the Tarleton area.

"I felt sick to my stomach, it was just shock and disbelief. I have gone past crying, I feel I just want to tell everybody. I don't want anybody else to be in the same position."

Jane was unable to go into work because her house key was on the same key ring as the car's and she had to wait in for a workman to come and change the locks.

And she was still waiting to hear whether her insurance company were prepared to pay out for the theft. "We have got a big loan on the car and I don't know if we are covered."

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "At this time of year when maybe there are opportunist thieves lurking, waiting for an opportunity to present itself, drivers and owners should be particularly careful and not allow thieves such an easy picking."