A CAR that first featured in the D&S Times two decades ago when it was rescued from scrap, is back in the news.

Steve Churm, who lives at Pear Tree Farm in Shildon, has been custodian of the unique 1967 Wolseley 18/85 stretch limousine for nine years. It is the only one of its kind known to have been stretched, and is featured in the book 100 Years of Wolseley.

It first came to the attention of the D&S Times in 1982 when Bedale taxi owner Robert Stooke rescued the limousine from a scrap-yard at Leeming Bar. At 16 feet long, he kept it for special occasions such as weddings. He paid £150 for the car, which had 46,000 miles on the clock, doing nearly all the restoration work himself, to add it to his taxi fleet. He also used it for occasional trips to the seaside.

When he bought it the suspension was broken and the car had become a home for mice. It needed new body sills - a problem because of its length - and Mr Stooke spent three days getting it started.

The car passed to Washington Motor Services in 1984 and was again used for wedding hire until, in 1990, it was bought for private use by one of the company's drivers who had seven children.

Mr Churm then entered the picture. "I bought it as a non-runner with the intention of restoration and I have collected many obsolete parts for the rebuild, including new wings and sills," he said.

But the story has turned full circle as, with no time to restore it and needing the garage space, the car needs rescuing again.

If anyone is interested in helping history repeat itself, they will need to be dedicated said Mr Churm, pointing out that it needs total restoration. However, it is complete and he describes the interior as good.

"The engine has been regularly turned by hand and the brakes were freed recently," he added.

To take on the challenge, contact Mr Churm on 01388 776863.