A BELOVED classic Porsche that a grandfather had gifted to his grandson was stolen after a burglar removed the back window of a house.

Ben Gerrard was given the red Porsche 924 by his grandfather and spent months painstakingly restoring it to its original condition and is appealing for its return.

The car was being stored in the locked and alarmed garage at his grandparent’s former home, in Bolton Road, Westhoughton, when a burglar broke into the property by removing the back window, stealing the keys and taking the car overnight on Monday.

The car was originally bought by his grandfather, Alan Gerrard, in 1981 for £9000 and he passed it to his grandson around 10 or 11 years ago.

Mr Gerrard, aged 41, fell in love with the car growing up and would ask his grandfather if he could have it when he was older.

The car holds many special memories and the family used to travel to North Wales in it for holidays.

After initially using the car, Mr Gerrard put the Porsche into storage but when his grandfather died in late 2015, at the age of 91, he was determined to get it back on the road.

He said: “He loved that car. I decided at that point the is going back on the road.

“I started working on it. I spent a good 12 months in the rain and wind. I got it back to showroom condition like when he had bought it.”

Mr Gerrard works as a graphic designer and was even able to recreate the original stickers that were in the windscreen in 1981.

He drove it for six months before storing it in the garage at the Bolton Road bungalow.

The family have been renovating the housing and Mr Gerrard was at the house on Monday preparing it for a viewing.

When his mother went round on Tuesday she saw the back window had been taken out and that the car had been taken.

As well as the car a television and tools were taken .

The car was not taxed or insured because it was off the road but he would not want money for it anyway.

He said: “It would be insulting for someone to come and give me a bit of money and say go and get a new one.

“I wouldn’t want a holiday or another car. I want that car in that condition.”

Mr Gerrard had been planning to tax and insure the car this weekend to go on a trip to Wales like the family used to.

Mr Gerrard has since been told the distinctive red car has been seen driving around Halliwell and in Thicketford Road and urged anyone to see it to get in touch.

Anyone with information can call police on 101.