When Kelly Smith badly damaged her car in a crash she left the wreck covered in police tape on a grass verge.

So she was astounded when her father returned to the scene two days later to discover the Peugeot had disappeared.

The 42-year-old shop assistant had been left bruised and shaken after the three-car pile-up on the A291 Canterbury Road outside Wildwood animal park.

But she was assured by police her lime green Peugeot 106 - which suffered extensive damage to the front end - would be safe where it was left.

But when her father Darren drove by on Monday morning, he realised the car she had bought less than a year ago was no longer there.

Police are now treating the vehicle as stolen.

Kelly said: "I just can't believe somebody would do that. There was police tape around it.

"I can't really afford another car, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do now.

"I think it would have been written off, but my car insurance can't do that now.

"It's just money that I didn't need to lose. It was my main mode of transport and I've now had to find alternative ways to get to work, and take my kids to school. It's had an impact on everything.

"We have got a lovely neighbour across the road who is running me everywhere at the moment, but I don't like to rely on people."

The thieves also got away with Kelly's 16-year-old daughter's purse and a car seat, which had both been left in the Peugeot.

Kelly's father, Darren Waddington, said: "She's got bruises across the chest where the seatbelt and airbag got her.

"She's never been in a crash before, and she's shaken up. What's hurt her more than anything is that it's her car, which she paid for."

A police spokesman says officers are investigating reports the car was stolen at some time between 11.30am on September 30 and 3pm on October 2.

Anyone with information should call 01843 222289, quoting ZY/58680/18.