THE restoration of a rare Rolls Royce is moving forward.

The 1935 22/25 shooting brake is being renovated at Carrossarie, a firm based in Barnard Castle, that specialises in restoring vintage vehicles.

The green and cream car, worth about £40,000, can be seen only occasionally when the workshop's doors are opened or it is pushed on to the forecourt to allow other cars to be moved.

Dick Francis, a partner in the firm, said: "Everyone who sees it stops and stares because it is such an unusual and wonderful looking vehicle."

During the occasions it is moved outside, several people stop to admire it and ask questions about its background.

It was first used by big game hunters in Africa, and was then commandeered by senior German army officers during the Second World War.

It was bought by the Wrigley chewing gum family and taken to the US, and has now been bought by John Mayhew, who owns a shooting estate in Lartington, near Barnard Castle.

Mr Francis said: "Most Rolls Royces from that era have a large drawer under a seat for tools, but on this one the drawer is designed to hold guns for shooting parties. It is good to know that it is back in Britain."