“BRAZEN” thieves stole a hand - built engine from under the nose of its owner in Pershore despite being told to leave it alone.

Michael Pincher, known locally as Mickey the Moler, had painstakingly rebuilt the engine for his vintage Morris Minor car which he uses to travel for work as a pest controller.

While he was working on the classic vehicle at THC Autos on Pershore Trading Estate on Tuesday, November 12, Mr Pincher says he heard some scrap metal collectors arrive and called to them not to take the engine.

But when he came out from under the car, he said the engine had gone.

“I was working on my 1956 Morris Minor when two young men came looking for scrap,” he said. “The engine was out of the car at the time as I had rebuilt the 50-year-old power unit to give my trade vehicle a new lease of life as it is well known in the area but was getting a bit tired.

“Underneath the vehicle at the time I shouted out them to leave the engine alone as it was outside, out of harm’s way waiting to be refitted that afternoon following hours of painstaking restoration.

“When I went to get it, it had gone, stolen from under five people’s noses. I spent a lot of loving hours on the engine. What galls me the most, apart from the brazen theft, is that the rebuilt engine worth £850 will be weighed in for scrap.”

Fortunately for Mr Pincher, classic car enthusiast Nigel Whitfield of KCR Garage Pershore, came to his rescue by providing a rare replacement engine which he had in his possession.

One of the men police are searching for in relation to theft is described as between 5ft 6 inches and 5ft 8 inches, in his mid to late 20s, with short mousy hair, with a round face and was wearing a black crew neck jumper. The second man didn’t get out the white Transit van the pair were in.

Anyone with information about the theft can contact the police on 101 quoting 573S-12-11-13.