Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson once famously drove a Rolls Royce into his home town swimming pool for a stunt.

Now someone has touched bottom gear by driving a golf cart into it.

Organisers of The Lido at Chipping Norton are not best pleased because they fear the prank could become a copycat craze of Mr Clarkson's fundraiser.

The buggy was taken from the town's golf club and driven more than a mile - either through the town or across country - and then rammed through a perimeter fence at the open-air pool in Fox Close.

Lido director Claire Jarvis said yesterday: "It is incredibly dangerous.

"The pool is closed this time of year and the water in there is filthy and very cold. A kid could easily drown."

It was discovered last Saturday morning and arrangements are being made to remove the buggy from the pool with a crane.

The buggy was taken from the golf club, at Southcombe, late on Friday night or early Saturday morning. Police, who are investigating theft and criminal damage, do not yet know what route it took to the pool.

Police are keeping an open mind on whether the incident was an imitation of Mr Clarkson's stunt, televised for Top Gear in June, 2005.

The celebrity, who lives in the town and is a chief fundraiser for The Lido, wanted to recreate the actions of Keith Moon, late drummer of rock band The Who, whop drove a car into his swimming pool.

Mr Clarkson was yesterday unavailable for comment.

His spokesman Lucinda McFarlane, said, however: "I can't believe anyone has done that. The last thing they want is for it to become a copycat thing.

"Fortunately, there is no damage to the pool itself, but driving it here was no accidental destination.

"There is a comic quality about it, but what I am extremely concerned about is that this does not become a thing to do and that others will seek to copy it.

"Jeremy Clarkson's stunt three years ago was well managed and helped us to raise money with a location fee. This was criminal damage and stupid."

The golf club has confirmed the buggy, one of a fleet hired from Mox Ltd at Banbury, was stolen, but did not want to comment. It is understood the buggies can cost up to £1,000 each.

Police spokesman Toby Shergold appealed for anyone who saw the thief driving the buggy to call 08458 505505.

He added: "We have sent our forensics team to see if there's anything they can pick up on and we have talked with The Lido about ways to improve their security.

"We want to hear from anyone who saw the buggy being driven from the golf club, to The Lido or anywhere in between."

The Lido, a registered charity, opens for a new season on April 26.