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An 85-year-old man is being forced to fork out for taxi fares to see his sick wife in hospital after his ‘pride and joy’ car of 44 years was stolen from his Manchester home during the festive period.

The victim’s wife is bed bound in hospital and now has the expense of travelling to see her adding to the stress of worrying for her health.

His grey Morris Minor was stolen from the his garage on Cringle Road, Levenshulme, at around 5pm on December 21 2012 – he had owned the vehicle for 44 years.

The pensioner was forced to pay for his daily trips to hospital and back – including paying for inflated Christmas and New Year prices – to visit his ill wife.

PC Lisa Valentine, from the Fallowfield Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “The car is this man’s pride and joy and is the biggest love in his life after his wife.

“He has looked after the car with dedication and purpose for more than 40 years and it is more than a mode of transport for him. Sadly, the theft has added to what is already a very worrying time and he now has the added expense and stress of having to get a taxi every day to visit his wife - who is unwell in hospital – instead of simply being able to drive over and see her."

“I would dearly love to reunite this car with the victim and if anyone has seen it being driven around or knows of its current whereabouts, please call us.”

A man described as white, about 6ft tall, between 25 and 35 years old with collar-length ‘mousey’ hair was seen driving a vehicle of similar description away from the scene.