A car seller has spoken of his shock after a would-be buyer stole his vehicle during a test drive and left him stranded in the countryside.

Azhar Iqbal, of Leylands Avenue, Heaton was stunned after the man in his 50s drove away in his silver VW Passat, which he had been hoping to sell for £5,000.

According to Mr Iqbal, the alleged thief had driven to a house in Cockin Lane, close to the Junction Inn pub in West Scholes, where he said his friend, a mechanic, would be able to check the car over.

However, his friend was not at home and the man then asked if he could check the exhaust, instructing Mr Iqbal to put some tissue into it while he revved the engine. The man then made off in the car.

Mr Iqbal, who moved to Bradford from Pakistan four years ago, said: “He drove the car away and didn’t come back. I was so shocked, I never expected something like this.

“He looked like a very nice man. He was about 55 and very gently spoken. I thought for about five minutes he would come back but after about ten minutes when he didn’t turn up I walked to the junction in the road.

“Fortunately I had my mobile in my pocket and I called my friend and he came to pick me up.”

The alleged theft is the latest incident in a run of bad luck for the 52-year-old, who recently lost his job as a bus driver and had his house broken into three months ago. He had hoped to sell the car to pay off a loan.

He said: “This type of incident happens in a third world country but this is a very organised country with the rule of law.

“I’m so shocked I’m trying to work out how I’m going to deal with this situation. I think my insurance will pay out but I’m not sure how much they will pay.”