Thieves have stolen a car from the family of a man who died less than a month ago - then dumped it in a scrapyard.

Robert Penny - known to friends as Harley Bob - had worked on the gunmetal grey Daimler Sovereign at his home in Rose Hill, Oxford, for six years until his death.

The thieves used a lorry to remove the car from the drive of his home in Ashurst Way last week - even though a funeral wreath was clearly visible in the window of the house.

Mr Penny's long-term partner Angela Hopkins, said she and their 10-year-old son Robert were distraught.

Ms Hopkins, 49, said she arrived home to find the car missing. "I just burst into tears, because we have been coping very well with the loss of Bob. When we opened the curtains we could see the car there and think that Bob's not completely gone." she said.

On Saturday, Ms Hopkins was contacted by someone who believed they had spotted her car in a north Oxfordshire scrapyard.

Ms Hopkins said: "I'm gutted, I feel absolutely violated. They would not have got £15 or £20 for that car. It was just a memory for me and it's vile what they have done, it's his last memory destroyed.

"They took it from a dead man, they are just rotten pigs and it's horrible."

Ms Hopkins said her son had been leaving notes to his father in the car as a way of coping after his 54-year-old dad died of a heart attack on November 23.

The notes were stolen along with the car, registration F875THU, which is worth £4,000.

Ms Hopkins said neighbours had told her that two men with a child had taken the car and that they even waved at the empty house to convince people they were legitimate.

Ms Hopkins added: "The car was priceless. Bob loved that car - it was his pride and joy.

"Hanging on the rear view mirror were our son's first booties from when he came home from the hospital. I feel as if my heart has been torn out - these scum are floating around Rose Hill like vultures."

Robert Wixey, 38, a former colleague of Mr Penny's at the Mudie Bond van dealership in Cassington, said: "This makes me feel very angry. I feel for Ange and little Robert - they have got enough to deal with at this time of year as it is."

Thames Valley Police want witnesses to call 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.