A CHEF had his stolen sports car returned in better condition than when it was snatched.

Food critic and masterchef Tom Bridge's £24,000 high-powered imported Mitsubishi FTO Mivec was found in Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe, and the thieves had completely valeted the car inside and out and even cleaned the engine!

Mr Bridge (52), of Bolton, was left devastated when a trip to the wholesalers ended in the theft of his prized car.

The sleek black racer is only available on import from Japan and was a present to Mr Bridge from his wife Jayne for his 50th birthday two years ago.

Mr Bridge appealed to the public to keep their eyes peeled for the distinctive sportster. And as a result a community-spirited Radcliffe man raised the alarm. "I spoke to him and he said the car might be on the move so it was a race against time for me to get over to Radcliffe," said Mr Bridge. "It was really good of the man. Things like that reaffirm your faith in human nature."

The culinary broadcaster and writer also informed the police who swooped and picked up the stolen car.

"It had been moved into a side street but it was there," he said. "I couldn't believe it, I was absolutely delighted.

"I got it back in a better condition than when it was stolen. I'd just like to thank the thieves for that," he joked.

But it was not all good news for Mr Bridge because nearly £4,000 worth of personal items including clothing, his briefcase and mobile phone containing years worth of cookery contacts have not been traced.

"I would still like them back because while they are of no value to anyone else they are priceless to me," he said.

The police did not catch the thieves but they will test the car for fingerprints.

Chief Inspector Alan Greene of Bolton Central Police said that it was entirely plausible that the car may have been destined for another country after being stolen.

"Cars get stolen for all sorts of reasons," said Chief Insp Greene. "Often they are stolen to order and it doesn't surprise me if expensive models are being targeted.